Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Paus raksasa itu menakutkan.

So paus raksasa itu is the normal, natural order.
Putting itu before the noun (itu paus raksasa) is possible, but it usually sounds like you are pointing something out in speech (a bit like saying “that’s a giant whale” in English).

Is itu more like “that” or more like “the” in English?

It can function like both, depending on context:

As “that” (pointing, specific, somewhat distant):
- Paus raksasa itu menakutkan.
  That giant whale is scary.
As “the” (a specific one already known in the conversation):
- Paus raksasa itu menakutkan.
  The giant whale is scary.

Indonesian doesn’t have separate words for the and that the way English does; itu covers both ideas.

What is the difference between paus raksasa and paus besar?

Both describe a big whale, but there’s a nuance:

besar = big / large (neutral, about size)
- paus besar = a big whale (could be just “large” in size)
raksasa = giant / gigantic / enormous, and can feel more dramatic
- paus raksasa = a giant whale, a huge whale (often sounds more impressive or monstrous)

So raksasa is stronger and more vivid than besar.

Is raksasa an adjective (like “giant”) or a noun (like “a giant”)?

It can be both, depending on how it’s used:

As an adjective:
- paus raksasa = giant whale
- kapal raksasa = giant ship
As a noun:
- Ada raksasa di hutan. = There is a giant in the forest.

Indonesian often uses the same word as both noun and adjective; the role is shown by context and position in the phrase.

What exactly does menakutkan mean—“scary,” “frightening,” or “terrifying”?

All of those are good translations; it means causing fear:

menakutkan ≈ scary / frightening / terrifying

The intensity depends on context and tone, not on the word itself. You could translate:

Paus raksasa itu menakutkan.
- That giant whale is scary.
- That giant whale is terrifying.
- That giant whale is really frightening.

All are acceptable.

Why is it menakutkan and not just takut?

Because takut describes the feeling of fear, while menakutkan describes something that causes fear:

takut = afraid
- Saya takut. = I’m afraid.
- Anak itu takut. = That child is scared.
menakutkan = frightening
- Paus raksasa itu menakutkan. = That giant whale is scary.
- (The whale makes others feel afraid.)

So:

Subject feels fear → use takut.
Subject causes fear → use menakutkan.

Is menakutkan a verb or an adjective in this sentence?

In Indonesian grammar, menakutkan is a verb formed from takut with the prefix meN- and suffix -kan.

However, in a sentence like:

Paus raksasa itu menakutkan.

it functions like an adjective in English (“is scary”). Indonesian doesn’t always make a sharp distinction between verbs and adjectives the way English does. Many meN- forms can serve as a predicate the way adjectives do in English.

Do we need a word for “is” (like adalah) in Paus raksasa itu menakutkan?

No. Indonesian usually omits a separate word for “is/are/am” in simple X is Y sentences.

Paus raksasa itu menakutkan.
Literally: Giant-whale that scary. → That giant whale is scary.

You only use adalah in certain more formal or specific contexts, typically:

when Y is a noun phrase, not an adjective:
- Dia adalah dokter. = He/She is a doctor.
or in formal writing for emphasis/clarity.

With adjectives like menakutkan, you normally do not use adalah.

Can I drop itu and just say Paus raksasa menakutkan? Does it change the meaning?

Yes, you can drop itu, and it slightly changes the feel:

Paus raksasa itu menakutkan.
→ A specific whale (or whales) we have in mind: That/the giant whale is scary.
Paus raksasa menakutkan.
→ More general: Giant whales are scary (as a type, in general).

So itu adds specificity, often referring to something known or visible.

How would I say “The giant whales are scary” in Indonesian?

You have a few options, all natural:

Paus raksasa itu menakutkan.
– Indonesian doesn’t always mark plural; context can make it clear that it means the giant whales.
Paus-paus raksasa itu menakutkan.
– Reduplication (paus-paus) makes the plural explicit: the giant whales.
Para paus raksasa itu menakutkan.
– para is a plural marker mostly for people, so this is less common/natural for animals, but you might still see it in some styles.

Most of the time, sentence 1 is enough; listeners infer singular or plural from context.

What’s the pronunciation of paus raksasa itu menakutkan?

Approximate syllables and sounds:

paus: pa-us
- a as in father
- u as in put
- The au here is usually pronounced as two separate vowels: pa-us, not like English “pause.”
raksasa: rak-sa-sa
- r rolled or tapped
- all a like in father
- k is a normal [k] here (not glottal).
itu: ee-too
- i like see, u like put but a bit longer.
menakutkan: mə-na-kut-kan
- me-: like mə in “about”
- na as in nah
- kut like coot (but short)
- kan like kahn (short a).

Stress is usually fairly even, often slightly stronger near the last syllable of each word: paus rakSAsa iTU meNAkutKAN (but less dramatic than English stress).

What is the difference between menakutkan and menakuti?

Both come from takut, but their usage differs:

menakutkan
- means “frightening / to frighten (something/someone)”
- can be used without an object, just describing something as scary:
  - Paus raksasa itu menakutkan. = That giant whale is scary.
- can also take an object:
  - Paus itu menakutkan anak-anak. = The whale frightens the children.
menakuti
- always clearly takes an object and sounds more like an action of scaring:
  - Paus itu menakuti anak-anak. = The whale scares/frightens the children (is doing something to scare them).

For simple descriptions like “X is scary,” use menakutkan, not menakuti.

Are there more casual words Indonesian speakers might use instead of menakutkan?

Yes, in everyday speech you’ll often hear:

seram = creepy, scary
- Paus raksasa itu seram.
ngeri = scary, horrific, gives you chills
- Paus raksasa itu ngeri.
menyeramkan = frightening (similar pattern to menakutkan)
- Paus raksasa itu menyeramkan.

All of these can describe something that makes you feel scared.