Pengikis itu kecil.

Malay often leaves out the verb to be in simple present sentences.

So:

• Pengikis itu kecil = That/The scraper is small
• literally, it is more like scraper that small

This is completely normal in Malay. You do not need a separate word for is here.

Itu usually means that, but in many sentences it can also make the noun sound more definite, like the in English.

So pengikis itu can often be understood as:

• that scraper
• or the scraper, depending on context

Malay does not use articles exactly like English, so itu often helps point to a specific thing.

In Malay, demonstratives such as ini and itu usually come after the noun.

So Malay says:

• pengikis itu = that scraper
• rumah itu = that house
• buku ini = this book

This is one of the most common word-order differences from English.

Yes. Pengikis is built from the root kikis, which is related to scraping or scraping off.

The prefix peng- often forms a noun meaning:

• a person who does something
• or a tool used for doing something

So pengikis can mean something like:

• scraper
• scraping tool
• sometimes one who scrapes, depending on context

In this sentence, it is most naturally understood as a thing/tool.

Yes, kecil is an adjective meaning small.

In this sentence, kecil is the predicate adjective:

• Pengikis itu = the subject
• kecil = describes the subject

So the sentence structure is:

• [noun phrase] + [adjective]

That is very common in Malay.

No. Pengikis itu kecil means The/That scraper is small.

If you want small scraper as a noun phrase, you would usually say:

• pengikis kecil = small scraper

So compare:

• pengikis kecil = a small scraper
• pengikis itu kecil = that scraper is small

This is an important difference.

Yes, depending on context.

Malay does not have articles like the and a in the same way English does. Because of that, itu can sometimes be translated as:

• that
• or the, if English sounds more natural that way

So both translations may be possible, but that scraper is small is the more literal one.

You can add sangat before the adjective:

• Pengikis itu sangat kecil = That scraper is very small

Other common intensifiers are:

• terlalu kecil = too small
• agak kecil = rather/somewhat small

A natural way is to use rising intonation in speech:

• Pengikis itu kecil? = Is that scraper small?

You can also use question particles or question words in other contexts, but for a simple yes/no question, intonation is often enough.

By itself, pengikis is usually understood as singular here because the sentence refers to one specific item.

If you clearly want plural, Malay often uses reduplication:

• pengikis-pengikis itu kecil = Those scrapers are small

But Malay does not always have to mark plural if the context already makes it clear.

A simple learner-friendly pronunciation is:

• pengikis → puh-NGEE-kis
• itu → EE-too
• kecil → kuh-CHEEL

Very roughly together:

• puh-NGEE-kis EE-too kuh-CHEEL

A few helpful notes:

• ng in pengikis is like the ng in sing
• c in kecil is pronounced like ch in chair

Yes, but it means something different.

• Pengikis itu kecil = That scraper is small
• Itu pengikis kecil = That is a small scraper

So the first sentence describes the scraper’s size. The second sentence identifies something as a small scraper.

This difference comes from the word order.