Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Ayam goreng itu renyah.

Indonesian doesn’t use a verb like “to be” before adjectives. Adjectives can serve directly as predicates. So Ayam goreng itu renyah literally reads “Fried chicken that crunchy,” which in English requires “is.” Don’t add adalah here—adalah is generally for linking to a noun, not an adjective.

Correct: Ayam goreng itu renyah.
Incorrect/unnatural: Ayam goreng itu adalah renyah.
With emphasis: Ayam goreng itu sangat renyah / renyah sekali / renyah banget (informal).

What does itu do here? Is it “that” or “the”?

Itu is a demonstrative meaning “that/those.” Placed after a noun phrase, it usually points to something specific/known, and often feels like “that” or even “the” in English, depending on context:

Ayam goreng itu = that (specific) fried chicken / the fried chicken (we both know).
Contrast with ini (“this”): Ayam goreng ini renyah.

Why is itu after the noun? Can I put it before, like English “that fried chicken”?

In Indonesian, demonstratives usually come after the noun phrase: ayam goreng itu (“that fried chicken”). If you put itu before the noun phrase—Itu ayam goreng—you’re making an equative sentence: “That is fried chicken.” That’s a different structure and meaning:

Ayam goreng itu renyah. = That fried chicken is crispy.
Itu ayam goreng. = That is fried chicken. (classification)

What part of speech is goreng in ayam goreng? Is it a verb or an adjective?

The root goreng means “fry.” Indonesian roots are flexible:

As a modifier after a noun: ayam goreng = “fried chicken” (like a participle).
As a verb with prefixes: menggoreng (to fry), digoreng (be/get fried; fried in passive). Examples:
Saya menggoreng ayam. (I fry chicken.)
Ayamnya digoreng. (The chicken is fried/was fried.)
Related noun: gorengan (fried snacks).

Could I say Ayam yang digoreng itu renyah instead?

Yes. Ayam yang digoreng itu renyah literally “The chicken that is fried is crispy.” It’s more explicit/relative-clause-like and a bit heavier. Ayam goreng itu renyah is the most natural everyday way.

If I remove itu and say Ayam goreng renyah, is that correct?

Yes, but the nuance changes. Without itu/ini, it often reads like a general statement: “Fried chicken (in general) is crispy.” With itu, you point to a specific one: Ayam goreng itu renyah. Context decides whether it’s a generic truth or about a particular item.

What’s the difference between renyah, garing, kriuk/krispi, and gurih?

renyah: crispy/crunchy (audible crunch), common for snacks and chicken skin.
garing: crisp and dry (no sogginess); overlaps with renyah, often for textures from deep-frying.
kriuk (informal, onomatopoeic) / krispi (loan from “crispy”): colloquial marketing/style words; ayam goreng krispi is common in ads/menus.
gurih: savory/umami (flavor), not texture. You can have ayam goreng yang renyah dan gurih (crispy and savory).

How do I say “very/really crispy” naturally?

Common intensifiers:

Formal/neutral: sangat renyah
Neutral: renyah sekali
Colloquial: renyah banget Examples:
Ayam goreng itu sangat renyah.
Ayam goreng itu renyah sekali.
Ayam goreng itu renyah banget.

How do plurals work here? Could Ayam goreng itu mean “those fried chicken pieces”?

Indonesian doesn’t mark plural by default, so ayam goreng itu can be singular or plural from context. To be explicit:

Pieces: potongan ayam goreng itu, beberapa potong ayam goreng itu
Whole chicken: seekor ayam goreng Examples:
Beberapa potong ayam goreng itu renyah.
Potongan ayam goreng itu renyah.

Can I use -nya instead of itu, like Ayam gorengnya renyah?

Yes. -nya can mark definiteness (“the”) or possession (“its/his/her”). In context:

Ayam gorengnya renyah. = The fried chicken (we’re talking about) is crispy / Its fried chicken is crispy (e.g., at that restaurant). Nuance: -nya often feels like “the one in question (from context),” while itu points/indicates (“that one there/that mentioned one”).

When do I use yang with this sentence?

To specify “that one (among several)”: Ayam goreng yang itu renyah.
To make an attributive phrase “crispy fried chicken”: ayam goreng yang renyah (used inside a larger noun phrase). Your sentence doesn’t need yang because renyah is the predicate adjective.

Any pronunciation tips for these words?

ayam: “AH-yam” (y like “yes”).
goreng: hard g; “GO-reng”; r is tapped; e is like “eh/ə” depending on speaker.
itu: “EE-too.”
renyah: “rə-NYAH”; ny is a single sound like Spanish ñ; final h is lightly audible; the first e is schwa (ə).