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Saya suka bukunya.

Saya suka bukunya.
I like his/her book.

Breakdown of Saya suka bukunya.

buku
the book
saya
I
suka
to like
nya
their
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Questions & Answers about Saya suka bukunya.

What exactly does -nya in bukunya mean here?

-nya is a suffix that usually means “his/her/its/their” or sometimes acts like “the” / “that” (a definite marker).

In Saya suka bukunya, bukunya can mean:

  • “his book / her book / their book” → I like his/her/their book.
  • or just “the book” (a specific book already known from context) → I like the book.

Which one it is depends on context, because -nya doesn’t show gender or number.

How do I know if bukunya means “the book” or “his/her book”?

You decide the meaning from context, not from the word itself.

Examples:

  • If you were already talking about “John’s book,” Saya suka bukunya will naturally be understood as “I like his book.”
  • If you were talking about a particular book everyone can see (e.g., on the table), it’s more naturally “I like the book.”

Indonesian often leaves out information that English insists on, such as whose book it is, if that’s already clear from the situation.

Could I split buku and nya and write buku nya as two words?

No. When -nya is attached as a suffix, it must be written together with the noun:

  • ✅ bukunya
  • ❌ buku nya

Indonesian personal pronoun suffixes are written as one word:

  • buku
    • -ku → bukuku (my book)
  • buku
    • -mu → bukumu (your book)
  • buku
    • -nya → bukunya (his/her/their book OR the book)
Is Saya suka bukunya formal, informal, or neutral?

It’s neutral–polite, suitable almost everywhere:

  • Saya is the neutral, polite “I.”
  • suka is a neutral verb for “like.”
  • bukunya is neutral.

You can say Saya suka bukunya to friends, colleagues, teachers, or strangers. It’s not overly formal, not slangy.

Can I replace saya with aku here?

Yes:

  • Aku suka bukunya.

Meaning is the same, but aku feels more informal / intimate (friends, close family, casual speech).
Saya is more neutral and polite, especially in more formal situations or with people you don’t know well.

Can I drop saya and just say Suka bukunya?

Yes, in many real conversations you can just say:

  • Suka bukunya.

This will usually be understood as “(I) like the book” because Indonesian often drops the subject pronoun when it’s obvious from context (who’s speaking, what was asked, etc.).

However, if you’re learning, it’s good practice to keep saya until you’re very comfortable with context.

What’s the difference between Saya suka bukunya and Saya suka buku itu?

Both can translate as “I like the book,” but the nuance differs:

  • Saya suka bukunya.

    • -nya often implies “that specific book we’re already talking about” or “his/her/their book.”
    • Feels a bit more connected to context or a person.

  • Saya suka buku itu.

    • Literally “I like that book.”
    • Uses itu (“that”) as a demonstrative, often pointing to something visible or just clearly identified.

If you want to be crystal clear that you mean that specific visible book, buku itu is usually clearer.
If you want “the book (we’ve been talking about)” or “his/her book,” bukunya is common.

How would I say “I like your book” instead of “his/her/their book” or “the book”?

Use -mu or a separate kamu:

  • Saya suka bukumu. → I like your book. (informal–neutral “you”)
  • Saya suka buku kamu. → I like your book. (also fine; a bit more explicit)

For a more polite “you,” you might see Anda:

  • Saya suka buku Anda. → I like your book. (polite/formal)
How do I say “I like my book” in Indonesian?

Use -ku for “my”:

  • Saya suka bukuku. → I like my book.

You can also say Saya suka buku saya, but the suffix -ku is very common and natural.

Does suka work like an adjective (“fond of”) or a verb (“to like”)?

In Indonesian grammar terms, suka is often classified as a stative verb (kata kerja statif), but for an English speaker, you can simply treat it as a verb meaning “to like”:

  • Saya suka bukunya. → I like the book.
  • Dia suka kucing. → He/She likes cats.
  • Mereka tidak suka kopi. → They don’t like coffee.

You don’t need any extra linking word like “to” or “am” in Indonesian. Just subject + suka + object.

What’s the difference between suka and cinta?

Both can be translated as “like/love,” but usage is different:

  • suka = like, be fond of

    • Saya suka bukunya. → I like the book.
    • Saya suka film ini. → I like this movie.

  • cinta = love (stronger, more emotional), mostly for people, sometimes for country, God, etc.

    • Saya cinta kamu. → I love you.
    • Saya cinta Indonesia. → I love Indonesia.

Using cinta for a book would sound unusual or exaggerated, unless you mean it very metaphorically.

Can I say Saya bukunya suka or Bukunya suka saya?

No. The natural word order here is:

  • Saya suka bukunya. → Subject + verb + object.

You can change the order for emphasis in some patterns, but you cannot just move the words randomly.
For example, Bukunya saya suka is possible in some contexts to emphasize “the book,” but it’s less basic and more advanced. For learners, stick to:

  • Saya suka bukunya.
Is bukunya singular or plural? Could it mean “the books” or “their books”?

Indonesian nouns usually don’t show plural by changing form, so:

  • buku = book / books
  • bukunya = his/her/its/their book(s) OR the book(s)

So Saya suka bukunya could be:

  • I like the book.
  • I like the books.
  • I like his/her/their book.
  • I like his/her/their books.

Again, context tells you whether it’s one book or more, and whose book(s) they are.