Learn Hardcore Malay: Dia masih mabuk pagi ini. - He/She is still drunk this morning.

Breakdown of Dia masih mabuk pagi ini.

Does dia mean he or she?

Yes. Dia can mean either he or she. Malay third-person singular pronouns usually do not show gender.

So:

You only know which one is meant from context.

Why is there no word for is in the sentence?

Malay often leaves out the verb to be when English would require is / am / are, especially before adjectives.

So in English you say:

But in Malay you simply say:

Here, mabuk functions like an adjective or stative word, so no separate is is needed.

That is why:

literally feels like:

but naturally means:

What does masih mean here?