Helikopter itu berada di luar.

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

So:

• helikopter itu = that helicopter / the helicopter

This is different from English, where this/that/the come before the noun.

More examples:

• rumah itu = that house / the house
• buku ini = this book

In many contexts, itu can sound like either that or the, depending on the situation.

It can mean either, depending on context.

In Helikopter itu berada di luar, itu most literally means that, but in natural English translation it can also work as the if the helicopter is already known from context.

So this phrase may correspond to:

• That helicopter is outside
• The helicopter is outside

Malay does not have a separate word exactly like English the.

Both are possible, but they feel slightly different.

• Helikopter itu di luar = a very common, natural way to say The helicopter is outside
• Helikopter itu berada di luar = a bit more formal or explicit; it emphasizes being located somewhere

Berada means something like to be located, to be situated, or to be in a certain place/state.

So:

• Dia di rumah = He/She is at home
• Dia berada di rumah = He/She is at home / located at home

The version without berada is often more conversational.

Berada usually means to be present, to be located, or to be situated.

In this sentence, it refers to location:

• berada di luar = to be outside

It is not quite the same as English to be in all situations. Malay often does not need a verb like is/are in simple sentences, but berada can be added when you want to make the idea of location more explicit.

Di luar means outside.

It is written as two words because:

• di is a preposition meaning at/in/on/to depending on context
• luar means outside, outer side, or exterior

So:

• di luar = outside / on the outside

This is important because Malay distinguishes between:

• di luar = outside (preposition + noun/location)
• words with di- attached directly to a verb, which mark the passive

For example:

• ditulis = written
• dibuka = opened

So di luar must stay as two words.

No. They look the same, but they are different.

In di luar, di is a preposition meaning something like at/in/on. It is written separately.

Examples:

• di rumah = at home
• di sekolah = at school
• di luar = outside

But in passive verbs, di- is a prefix attached directly to the verb:

• ditulis = written
• dibaca = read
• dibuka = opened

So spacing matters a lot:

• di luar = outside
• ditutup = closed

Yes. It can be literal or more abstract, depending on context.

Literal:

• Dia menunggu di luar. = He/She is waiting outside.

More abstract:

• di luar negara = abroad / outside the country
• di luar jangkaan = beyond expectations
• di luar kawalan = out of control

In your sentence, it most naturally means physical location: the helicopter is outside.

Yes, it follows a very common Malay pattern:

• Helikopter itu = subject
• berada = verb
• di luar = location phrase

So the structure is:

Subject + verb + location

Malay word order is often similar to English in simple statements, but noun phrases differ because itu comes after the noun.

Compare:

• English: That helicopter is outside
• Malay: Helikopter itu berada di luar

Usually, for things like a helicopter, you would not normally use dia in standard Malay unless you are personifying it.

If you want a pronoun for it, Malay often just leaves the subject understood from context, or uses the noun again. In formal writing, ia can sometimes refer to things, but with objects, repeating the noun is often clearer.

So:

• Helikopter itu berada di luar. = very natural
• Ia berada di luar. = possible in formal usage, depending on context
• Dia berada di luar. = usually for a person, not a helicopter

A rough guide:

• berada ≈ buh-RAH-duh
• luar ≈ LOO-ar

A few tips:

• Malay pronunciation is generally more regular than English.
• r is usually pronounced more clearly than in many English accents.
• luar has two vowel sounds: lu-ar, not one blended English-style syllable.

So the whole sentence is roughly:

Helikopter itu berada di luar
≈ heh-lee-KOP-ter ee-too buh-RAH-duh dee LOO-ar

Yes. Ada di luar is also natural and common.

Compare:

• Helikopter itu di luar = simplest, very natural
• Helikopter itu ada di luar = natural; emphasizes existence/presence there
• Helikopter itu berada di luar = more formal or descriptive; emphasizes location

All three can translate as The helicopter is outside, but the tone is slightly different.

It sounds neutral to slightly formal because of berada.

Levels of style:

• Helikopter itu di luar. = everyday, simple, natural
• Helikopter itu ada di luar. = everyday and common
• Helikopter itu berada di luar. = a bit more formal, careful, or written

So if you see berada, it often appears in news, announcements, formal speech, or writing, though it is still perfectly normal Malay.

Yes, you can, especially for emphasis.

For example:

• Di luar, helikopter itu berada.

But this sounds marked or literary, not the most neutral everyday order.

The normal and natural word order is:

• Helikopter itu berada di luar.

So beginners should usually stick with that standard order first.