Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Gitar baru itu berwarna biru gelap.

Indonesian often drops the copula is. Instead, you either use a predicative verb (like berwarna, “to have color”) or simply place an adjective after the noun. So Gitar baru itu berwarna biru gelap literally means “That new guitar has a dark blue color,” which in English we interpret as “That new guitar is dark blue.”

What does berwarna mean, and why is the prefix ber- used here?

berwarna is a verb meaning “to have a color” or “to be colored.” It’s formed by adding the prefix ber- (indicating “having” or “being equipped with”) to the noun warna (“color”). Many adjectival or stative ideas in Indonesian are expressed with ber- + noun.

Why does baru come after gitar rather than before it?

In Indonesian, adjectives follow the noun they modify. So instead of “new guitar,” you say gitar baru. Placing baru before gitar would be ungrammatical for an adjective; if you said baru gitar, it would be interpreted as “just a guitar” (with baru as an adverb).

How do you tell the difference between baru meaning “new” and baru meaning “just” (recently)?

• When baru follows a noun (as in gitar baru), it’s an adjective meaning “new.”
• When baru follows a verb or appears on its own in a verb phrase (as in saya baru makan), it’s an adverb meaning “just/recently.”

What is the role of itu at the end of gitar baru itu? How do demonstratives work here?

itu means “that” and always follows the noun phrase in Indonesian. Demonstratives ini (“this”) and itu (“that”) come after any adjectives as well:
• gitar baru ini = “this new guitar”
• gitar baru itu = “that new guitar”

Why is the color phrase biru gelap instead of gelap biru?

Compound color phrases in Indonesian put the base color first (biru = “blue”), then the modifier (gelap = “dark”). So biru gelap = “dark blue.” Reversing them (gelap biru) would sound unnatural.

Could you say Gitar baru itu warnanya biru gelap instead? What does warnanya do?

Yes. warnanya is warna + the possessive suffix -nya (“its color”). Gitar baru itu warnanya biru gelap literally means “That new guitar—its color is dark blue.” It’s a perfectly natural alternative, often used to emphasize the property.

Why don’t we use adalah here?

adalah is a formal copula used mainly in written or very formal Indonesian, and it typically links two nouns. For descriptions with adjectives (especially colors), native speakers prefer berwarna or the warnanya construction. Using adalah before an adjective like biru gelap would sound stiff or awkward.

How would you make the sentence plural or specify “some new guitars”?

Indonesian nouns do not change form for plural. You can add quantifiers or reduplication:
• beberapa gitar baru itu berwarna biru gelap = “Several of those new guitars are dark blue.”
• gitar-gitar baru itu berwarna biru gelap = “Those new guitars are dark blue.”

Can you omit itu, and what changes if you do?

Yes: Gitar baru berwarna biru gelap still works, meaning “The new guitar is dark blue” or more generally “New guitars are dark blue,” depending on context. Omitting itu removes the specific demonstrative “that,” making the statement more general.