Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Ini hutan lebat.

Ini is a demonstrative pronoun meaning “this.” In Ini hutan lebat it points to a forest that’s close by or that you’re currently talking about.

Why isn’t there an article like “a” or “the” in Ini hutan lebat?

Indonesian doesn’t use definite or indefinite articles the way English does. You simply say hutan for “a/the forest.” The demonstrative ini already clarifies “this forest,” so no extra article is needed.

How do adjectives work in Indonesian word order?

In Indonesian, adjectives usually follow the noun they modify. So you say hutan lebat (forest dense = “dense forest”), not lebat hutan. The pattern is: • [Noun] + [Adjective]
• hutan (forest) + lebat (dense)

Can I use itu instead of ini?

Yes. Ini means “this,” while itu means “that.”
• Ini hutan lebat = “this dense forest” (near me)
• Itu hutan lebat = “that dense forest” (over there or mentioned earlier)

Could I say hutan lebat ini instead of ini hutan lebat?

Yes, but it slightly shifts the emphasis.
• Ini hutan lebat = “This is a dense forest.”
• Hutan lebat ini = “This dense forest…” (introducing more information about it)
Both are grammatically correct; you choose based on what you want to highlight.

How would I say “a dense forest” without pointing it out as “this” or “that”?

You simply say hutan lebat.
• No article is needed.
• If you need to quantify: sebuah hutan lebat = “a dense forest.”

Can I use a relative clause, like “forest that is dense”?

Yes. You can say hutan yang lebat.
• yang is a relative pronoun meaning “that” or “which.”
• hutan yang lebat = “the forest that is dense.”
But for a simple description, hutan lebat is more natural.