Renda itu cantik.

That lace is beautiful.

Breakdown of Renda itu cantik.

• itu: that
• cantik: beautiful
• renda: lace (fabric)

Questions & Answers about Renda itu cantik.

What does itu mean here?

In this sentence, itu most basically means that.

So Renda itu cantik is literally something like lace that beautiful.

However, in natural translation, itu can also make the noun feel more definite, so depending on context it may be understood as that lace or the lace.

Why is itu after renda instead of before it?

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

So:

• renda ini = this lace
• renda itu = that lace

This is normal Malay word order.

Where is the word is?

Malay often does not use a word meaning is in simple sentences like this.

So:

• Renda itu cantik = That lace is beautiful

The linking verb is simply understood. This is very common in Malay, especially when the predicate is an adjective.

Is cantik an adjective or a verb?