Kubis tumis itu enak.

In Indonesian, the main noun usually comes first, and words that describe or identify it come after it.

So in kubis tumis itu:

• kubis = cabbage
• tumis = stir-fried / sautéed
• itu = that / the

The pattern is roughly:

noun + modifier + itu

This is very common in Indonesian:

• rumah besar itu = that big house
• buku baru itu = that new book
• kubis tumis itu = that stir-fried cabbage

So the order feels normal in Indonesian, even though it is different from English.

Tumis is basically the word for stir-fry or sauté. It can act like a verb, but in a phrase like kubis tumis, it works like a modifier after the noun.

So kubis tumis means something like:

• stir-fried cabbage
• literally, cabbage stir-fry-style

This kind of structure is common in Indonesian. A word that is verbal in origin can modify a noun without needing extra words.

A fuller version could be something like:

• kubis yang ditumis = cabbage that is stir-fried

But in everyday speech, kubis tumis is shorter and very natural.

Indonesian often does not use a separate verb meaning "to be" in simple sentences like this.

So:

• Kubis tumis itu enak
• literally: That stir-fried cabbage delicious
• natural English: That stir-fried cabbage is delicious

This is completely normal. In Indonesian, a noun phrase can be followed directly by an adjective:

• Makanan ini enak = This food is delicious
• Rumah itu besar = That house is big
• Dia sakit = He/She is sick

So there is no missing word here; the sentence is already complete.

Itu literally means that, but in many real sentences it can feel closer to the, especially when you are talking about something specific that both speaker and listener know.

So kubis tumis itu could be understood as:

• that stir-fried cabbage
• or more naturally in some contexts, the stir-fried cabbage

This is one reason learners sometimes find itu tricky: its meaning depends on context.

Very roughly:

• kubis tumis = stir-fried cabbage in general
• kubis tumis itu = that/the specific stir-fried cabbage

Yes, you can, but the meaning changes slightly.

• Kubis tumis itu enak = that/the stir-fried cabbage is delicious
• Kubis tumis enak = stir-fried cabbage is delicious / stir-fried cabbage tastes good

Without itu, the sentence sounds more general. It can describe stir-fried cabbage as a dish in general, not one specific serving.

With itu, it sounds more like you are pointing out or referring to a particular dish.

Yes, it is understandable and natural. It refers to a cabbage dish prepared by stir-frying.

That said, Indonesian food names can vary depending on region and style. You may also hear:

• tumis kubis
• kubis tumis
• kol tumis

All can be understood, though the most common wording may depend on the speaker and context.

In this sentence, kubis tumis works well as a noun phrase meaning stir-fried cabbage.

Both refer to cabbage.

• kubis is a standard Indonesian word
• kol is also very common in everyday speech

In many contexts, they are interchangeable:

• kubis tumis = stir-fried cabbage
• kol tumis = stir-fried cabbage

A learner should recognize both.

Enak is a very common Indonesian adjective. With food, it often means:

• delicious
• tasty
• good

So in this sentence, enak means the cabbage tastes good.

But enak is broader than just food. It can also describe something as:

• pleasant
• comfortable
• enjoyable
• nice to experience

For example:

• Kursinya enak. = The chair is comfortable.
• Tidurnya enak. = The sleep was good / comfortable.
• Lagunya enak didengar. = The song is nice to listen to.

So here it means tasty, but the word itself is quite flexible.

A simple pronunciation guide is:

KOO-bis TOO-mis EE-too EH-nak

A few notes:

• u in kubis sounds like oo in food
• tumis has stress that is fairly even; Indonesian stress is usually not as strong as in English
• itu is pronounced ee-too
• enak is roughly eh-nak

Indonesian pronunciation is generally quite regular, so once you know the sounds, it is easier than English spelling.

It is neutral and natural. You could use it in everyday conversation without any problem.

It is not slang, and it is not especially formal either. It is just a normal descriptive sentence.

If you wanted a slightly more formal or literary word than enak, you might use lezat, but enak is much more common in daily speech.

• Kubis tumis itu enak. = very natural everyday Indonesian
• Kubis tumis itu lezat. = also correct, but a bit more formal or emphatic

Because it includes itu, it usually points to a specific dish:

• Kubis tumis itu enak = that/the stir-fried cabbage is delicious

If you want a more general statement, you would more naturally say:

• Kubis tumis enak = stir-fried cabbage is tasty

So itu makes the sentence more specific and referential.