Berlian itu sangat mahal.

In Malay, you often do not need a verb like is/are/am when linking a subject to an adjective.

So:

• Berlian itu sangat mahal.
• literally: diamond that/the very expensive

But the natural English meaning is:

• That diamond is very expensive.

This is very normal in Malay. Adjectives can directly describe the subject without adding a separate word for is.

Itu usually means that, but in many sentences it can also function a bit like the, depending on context.

So berlian itu can mean:

• that diamond
• the diamond

In this sentence, both are possible depending on the situation. If you are pointing one out, that diamond is a good translation. If the diamond is already known in the conversation, the diamond also makes sense.

Yes, you can, but the meaning becomes less specific.

• Berlian itu sangat mahal = That/The diamond is very expensive
• Berlian sangat mahal = Diamonds are very expensive or diamond is very expensive in a more general sense

So itu helps identify a specific diamond rather than talking about diamonds in general.

Sangat means very.

So:

• mahal = expensive
• sangat mahal = very expensive

It works like an adverb modifying the adjective.

Examples:

• sangat besar = very big
• sangat cantik = very beautiful
• sangat mahal = very expensive

Both can exist, but they feel a little different.

• sangat mahal is the standard, neutral way to say very expensive
• mahal sangat is also used, especially in speech, and can sound more emphatic or conversational, like so expensive or really expensive

So in a textbook-style sentence, sangat mahal is the safer and more standard choice.

Mahal is an adjective meaning expensive.

It is commonly used for things that cost a lot of money:

• Kereta itu mahal. = That car is expensive.
• Rumah ini mahal. = This house is expensive.
• Berlian itu sangat mahal. = That diamond is very expensive.

The opposite of mahal is murah = cheap/inexpensive.

Mostly yes.

The order is:

• Berlian itu = subject noun phrase
• sangat mahal = description

So Malay follows a pattern like:

• Subject + adverb + adjective

Example:

• Buku itu sangat menarik. = That book is very interesting.

The main difference from English is that Malay leaves out is.

A simple learner-friendly pronunciation guide is:

• berlian ≈ ber-lee-an
• itu ≈ ee-too
• sangat ≈ sah-ngat
• mahal ≈ mah-hal

A rough full pronunciation:

• ber-lee-an ee-too sah-ngat mah-hal

A few helpful notes:

• r in Malay is usually lightly rolled or tapped
• vowels are usually pronounced clearly
• a often sounds like the a in father

Yes. Malay nouns usually do not change form for singular and plural the way English nouns do.

So berlian can mean:

• diamond
• diamonds

Context tells you which one is meant.

In Berlian itu sangat mahal, the presence of itu strongly suggests a specific single item in normal usage: that/the diamond.

Yes. A few common alternatives are:

• mahal sekali = very expensive
• terlalu mahal = too expensive
• amat mahal = very expensive (more formal/literary)
• mahal sangat = really/so expensive (more conversational)

So these are all possible, but they are not exactly identical:

• sangat mahal = very expensive
• mahal sekali = very expensive
• terlalu mahal = too expensive

Be careful not to use terlalu when you only mean very.

Yes. Mahal can be translated as expensive, costly, or sometimes high-priced, depending on style.

The core idea is that the diamond has a high price. In most everyday English, expensive is the most natural translation.