Pemandu itu mabuk.

Itu usually means that, but after a noun it often works like the/that in English.

So:

• pemandu = driver
• pemandu itu = that driver / the driver

In real usage, noun + itu is very common when the speaker means a specific, identifiable person or thing.

In Malay, descriptive words usually come after the noun, not before it.

So:

• pemandu mabuk = drunken driver / driver who is drunk
• pemandu itu mabuk = that driver is drunk

This matches a common Malay pattern:

• Noun + description

Examples:

• rumah besar = big house
• budak kecil = small child
• lelaki itu marah = that man is angry

No. Malay often leaves out the equivalent of is/am/are in simple sentences.

So Pemandu itu mabuk literally looks like:

• driver that drunk

but naturally means:

• That driver is drunk

This is normal in Malay. You also get:

• Dia sakit = He/she is sick
• Rumah itu besar = That house is big

Here, mabuk is functioning like an adjective/state word, meaning drunk.

Malay words do not always fit neatly into English grammar categories, but in this sentence mabuk describes the driver’s condition.

You can also see it in other contexts:

• Dia mabuk = He/she is drunk
• orang mabuk = a drunk person / drunken person

Depending on context, mabuk can also be used in broader ways, such as intoxicated, dizzy, or even seasick/car sick.

Yes. Mabuk can have a wider meaning than English drunk.

Depending on context, it can mean:

• drunk/intoxicated
• dizzy
• nauseated from motion, as in car sick or seasick

Examples:

• mabuk laut = seasick
• mabuk kereta = carsick
• mabuk arak = drunk from alcohol

So context matters. In Pemandu itu mabuk, many learners will understand it as the driver is drunk, but the broader idea is that the driver is in an impaired or woozy state.

Yes, but the meaning changes slightly.

• Pemandu itu mabuk = that/the driver is drunk
• Pemandu mabuk = drunk driver / drivers who are drunk / a driver who is drunk, depending on context

Without itu, the phrase is less specific. It may sound more general or descriptive rather than referring to one particular driver already known in the conversation.

A simple learner-friendly pronunciation guide is:

• pemandu ≈ puh-MAHN-doo
• itu ≈ ee-too
• mabuk ≈ MAH-book

A few helpful points:

• Malay pronunciation is usually quite regular.
• u is like oo in food.
• The a is usually like a in father.
• The final k in some accents may be lightly released or sound stopped, but learners can pronounce it clearly at first.

Pemandu means driver, but more generally it refers to a person who drives a vehicle.

It can be used for:

• car driver
• bus driver
• taxi driver
• sometimes other vehicle operators, depending on context

It comes from the root pandu, related to guiding or steering. The prefix peN- often forms a noun for a person who does something, so pemandu is basically one who drives/guides.

They are similar, but not exactly the same in tone and usage.

• pemandu is a standard Malay word for driver
• sopir also means driver, but it is more common in Indonesian than in standard Malay used in Malaysia

If you are learning Malay, pemandu is the safer and more standard choice.

Yes. Pemandu itu can often be translated as either:

• that driver
• the driver

Which one sounds best depends on context.

Malay does not have articles exactly like English the and a, so words like itu often help show that the noun is specific.

You would usually use tidak before mabuk:

• Pemandu itu tidak mabuk = That driver is not drunk.

Tidak is used to negate adjectives and verbs.

Compare:

• Dia tidak sakit = He/she is not sick.
• Mereka tidak datang = They did not come.

A natural way is:

• Pemandu itu mabuk? = Is that driver drunk?

In speech, intonation often shows that it is a question.

You can also use question words or markers in other contexts, but for a simple yes/no question, Malay often keeps the same word order and just changes the intonation.