Pensel itu patah.

In Malay, demonstratives like ini (this) and itu (that) usually come after the noun.

So:

• pensel itu = that pencil / the pencil

This is normal Malay word order.
English says that pencil, but Malay says pencil that.

Itu most basically means that, but in real sentences it can also feel like the, depending on context.

So pensel itu can mean:

• that pencil
• the pencil

Malay does not have a separate word exactly equivalent to English the, so words like itu often help make the noun more specific.

Malay often does not need a verb like is/are when describing something with an adjective or stative word.

So:

• Pensel itu patah.

naturally means:

• That pencil is broken.
• The pencil is broken.

There is no need to add a word for is here.

It behaves like a stative word in Malay, which can often translate into English as either an adjective or a verb-like idea depending on context.

In this sentence, patah means something like:

• broken
• snapped

So Pensel itu patah is naturally understood as The pencil is broken or That pencil broke/snapped depending on the situation.

Malay does not always separate adjectives and verbs in the same way English does.

Not exactly. Patah is usually used when something snaps, breaks into pieces, or breaks across its structure.

Good examples:

• a pencil snaps
• a branch breaks
• a bone breaks

For other kinds of damage, Malay may use different words, such as rosak for something that is damaged, spoiled, or not working properly.

So for a snapped pencil, patah is a very natural choice.

Yes, depending on context.

Malay often does not mark tense the way English does. So this sentence can refer to:

• a current state: The pencil is broken
• an event understood from context: The pencil broke

If you need to make time clearer, Malay can add time words or markers, for example:

• Pensel itu sudah patah = The pencil is already broken / has broken
• Pensel itu patah semalam = The pencil broke yesterday

Yes. Pensel and pensil are both seen, but pensel is the standard modern spelling in Malay.

So for learners, pensel is the safer form to use.

A simple approximate pronunciation is:

PEN-sel EE-too PAH-tah

A few notes:

• e in pensel is a schwa-like sound, similar to the a in about
• itu sounds like ee-too
• patah has two clear syllables: pa-tah
• Malay pronunciation is generally quite regular and phonetic

For the normal meaning, Pensel itu patah is the natural order.

• pensel itu = the noun phrase
• patah = the description

So the sentence structure is basically:

• [noun phrase] + [description]

Changing the order would usually sound unnatural or would create a different structure.

Yes. That would mean:

• This pencil is broken

The difference is:

• pensel itu = that/the pencil
• pensel ini = this pencil

Again, the demonstrative comes after the noun in Malay.

It is neutral and standard Malay. It works well in everyday speech and writing.

It is a very normal, natural sentence, not especially formal or slangy.

No. Pensel itu patah is complete and natural on its own.

Malay classifiers are used in some contexts, especially with numbers, for example:

• sebatang pensel = a pencil / one pencil

But in this sentence, no classifier is needed.