Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Di kebun binatang itu ada monyet lucu yang suka melompat di rantai besi. - In that zoo there is a cute monkey that likes to jump on an iron chain.

Indonesian uses di as a general location preposition. English often distinguishes in / at / on, but Indonesian often just uses di and lets context clarify whether it’s in, at, or on.

Also note:

When di is written separately (with a space), it’s a preposition (location).
When di- is written together with a verb (e.g. ditulis, dibaca), it’s usually a passive prefix, not the location preposition.

What does kebun binatang itu mean exactly, and why is itu after the noun?

Kebun binatang itu literally is:

kebun = garden
binatang = animal
kebun binatang = zoo
itu = that / the

So kebun binatang itu means “that zoo” or “the zoo (already known to both speakers)”.

In standard Indonesian, demonstratives like ini (this) and itu (that/the) usually come after the noun:

buku itu = that/the book
orang ini = this person
kebun binatang itu = that/the zoo

Putting itu before the noun (itu kebun binatang) is not the usual neutral way to say it and would sound marked or nonstandard in many contexts.

What is the function of ada here? Is it necessary?

In ada monyet lucu…, ada means “there is / there are”.

Di kebun binatang itu ada monyet lucu…
= In that zoo, there is a cute monkey…

Key points about ada:

It introduces the existence of something, like English “there is / there are”.
It doesn’t mean “to be” in the same way as English is/are for descriptions (e.g. Dia guru = He is a teacher; no ada).
It can sometimes be dropped in casual speech, especially if the structure is still clear, but including it is more natural and clear in this kind of “there is…” sentence.

You can also reverse the order:

Ada monyet lucu di kebun binatang itu.
Same meaning; slightly different emphasis.

Why is it monyet lucu and not lucu monyet? Where do adjectives go?

In Indonesian, adjectives normally come after the noun they describe.

monyet lucu = cute monkey
- monyet = monkey (noun)
- lucu = cute / funny (adjective)

If you said lucu monyet, it would usually be interpreted as a sentence fragment like “(it is) funny, (the) monkey”, or sound wrong in this context.

More examples:

rumah besar = big house
buku baru = new book
anak pintar = smart child

So: noun + adjective is the standard order.

What does yang do in monyet lucu yang suka melompat…? Is it like “who/that”?

Yes, yang here works like the English “who / that / which” introducing a relative clause.

monyet lucu = a cute monkey
yang suka melompat di rantai besi = that likes to jump on the iron chain

Together:

monyet lucu yang suka melompat di rantai besi
= the cute monkey that likes to jump on the iron chain

Key points about yang:

It links a noun to a describing clause:
- orang yang pintar = a person who is smart
- buku yang saya baca = the book that I am reading
You cannot omit yang in this structure; without it, the sentence becomes ungrammatical or confusing.

How does suka work here? Is it “like” as a verb, or “often”?

In this sentence, suka means “to like / to be fond of (doing something)”.

yang suka melompat = who likes to jump

Patterns with suka:

suka + noun
- suka kopi = like coffee
suka + verb
- suka melompat = like to jump
- suka bernyanyi = like to sing

Sometimes suka can also convey a sense of habit (“tends to / often”), but here the main idea is enjoyment/liking.

What is the difference between melompat and lompat?

Both relate to “jump”, but the forms are different:

lompat = base form “jump”
melompat = verb with the me- prefix, roughly “to jump” in a more standard verb form

In practice:

melompat is the more standard verb form in full sentences.
lompat is often used:
- in imperatives: Lompat! = Jump!
- in casual speech, especially after certain auxiliaries (like bisa lompat, boleh lompat).

In this sentence, melompat is natural because we have a full clause yang suka melompat (“who likes to jump”).

What exactly does rantai besi mean? Is besi an adjective or a noun?

Rantai besi literally is:

rantai = chain
besi = iron (as a noun, “iron metal”)

Together, rantai besi means “iron chain” or “a chain made of iron/metal”.

In Indonesian, a noun followed by another noun can work like “Noun of Noun” or “Noun made of Noun”, similar to English compound nouns:

meja kayu = wooden table / table made of wood
cincin emas = gold ring / ring made of gold
rantai besi = iron chain / metal chain

You could also say rantai dari besi (chain made from iron), but rantai besi is shorter and very natural.

Could the sentence start with Ada monyet lucu… instead? Does that change the meaning?

Yes, you can say:

Ada monyet lucu yang suka melompat di rantai besi di kebun binatang itu.

The basic meaning is the same: There is a cute monkey that likes to jump on an iron chain at that zoo.

Differences:

Di kebun binatang itu ada…
- Slightly emphasizes the location first: At that zoo, there is…
Ada monyet lucu… di kebun binatang itu.
- Slightly emphasizes the existence of the monkey first: There is a cute monkey… at that zoo.

Both are grammatically correct and natural; the choice is mostly about emphasis and flow, not meaning.

Why is there no word for “a” before monyet? How do you say “a monkey” vs “monkeys”?

Indonesian does not use articles like “a / an / the”. The bare noun monyet can mean “a monkey” or “monkeys” depending on context.

ada monyet lucu
= there is a cute monkey
or in another context there are cute monkeys

To be more explicitly singular, you can add a classifier:

seekor monyet lucu = a (single) cute monkey
- ekor is a classifier for animals
- se- means “one”

To be clearly plural, you can:

repeat the noun: monyet-monyet lucu = cute monkeys
or add a plural marker like para (for people), though for animals para is not used; context and reduplication are more common.

In this sentence, ada monyet lucu is naturally understood as “there is a cute monkey”, but context could allow a plural reading if needed.