Alat pemadam api itu baharu.

That fire extinguisher is new.

Breakdown of Alat pemadam api itu baharu.

• itu: that
• baharu: new
• alat pemadam api: a fire extinguisher

Questions & Answers about Alat pemadam api itu baharu.

What does each part of Alat pemadam api itu baharu mean?

A word-by-word breakdown is:

• alat = tool, device
• pemadam = extinguisher / something used to put out
• api = fire
• itu = that / the
• baharu = new

So alat pemadam api is fire extinguisher, and the whole sentence means That/The fire extinguisher is new.

Why is there no word for is in the sentence?

Malay often does not use a present-tense verb like is in simple sentences with adjectives.

So:

• Alat pemadam api itu baharu
• literally: fire extinguisher that new
• natural English: That/The fire extinguisher is new

This is completely normal in Malay.

What does itu mean here: that or the?