Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Dia kurang sabar. - He/She is not patient enough.

Dia is a gender‑neutral third‑person singular pronoun, so it can mean either he or she. Context usually makes the gender clear. To specify, add a noun:

Dia seorang pria/laki‑laki = He (a man)
Dia seorang wanita/perempuan = She (a woman)

For respectful reference, use beliau. Plural is mereka. In formal writing you may see ia (subject only) instead of dia.

Where is the verb “is”? Why can Indonesian say Dia kurang sabar without it?

Indonesian doesn’t use a verb like “to be” before adjectives. An adjective can directly function as the predicate:

Dia sabar = He/She is patient.
Dia kurang sabar = He/She is not very patient.

Use adalah only to equate nouns, e.g., Dia adalah dokter (He/She is a doctor), not before adjectives.

What exactly does kurang mean in this sentence?

Here kurang means “not enough,” “insufficient,” or “not very.” So kurang sabar = “not patient enough / not very patient.” It’s a mild/soft way to express a negative judgment.

Beyond this sentence, kurang is common:

Before adjectives/adverbs: kurang jelas (not very clear)
With nouns (short of): kurang uang (short of money), kurang tidur (not enough sleep)
With numbers/time (minus): (2:55),