Kakinya patah.

the leg

Breakdown of Kakinya patah.

• patah: broken (snapped)

Questions & Answers about Kakinya patah.

What does -nya mean in kakinya?

-nya is a clitic often meaning his, her, or its when attached to a noun.

So:

• kaki = leg / foot
• kakinya = his leg, her leg, or its leg

In this sentence, kakinya is the thing being talked about.

How do I know whether kakinya means his leg or her leg?

You usually know from context. Malay does not mark gender in -nya.

So kakinya patah could mean:

• his leg is broken
• her leg is broken

The sentence itself does not tell you which one.

Why is there no word for is in this sentence?

Malay often does not use a copula like English is/are in simple sentences like this.

So English:

• His leg is broken

Malay:

• Kakinya patah

This is completely normal Malay. The meaning is is understood without saying a separate word.