Learn Hardcore Malay: Kita di sini.

In Malay, kita is an inclusive "we," meaning it includes both the speaker and the listener, whereas kami is exclusive, meaning it excludes the listener. In the sentence Kita di sini, the speaker is letting the listener know that both of them are here.

Why don’t we say "Kita berada di sini"?

The verb berada ("to be located") can be used, but it’s often omitted in everyday, casual Malay. Kita di sini is perfectly acceptable and sounds natural in most contexts. If you say Kita berada di sini, it sounds a bit more formal. Both carry the same meaning: "We are here."

Is there a verb for "are" in Malay?

In Malay, there isn’t always a direct equivalent of "are." Often, location or state expressions simply use di, which indicates position, or adjectives that act like verbs. In this sentence, di ("at") plus a location word (like sini, here) is enough to convey the meaning.

Could this sentence be used to indicate presence in a specific place, like a shop or a city?

Yes, you can adjust the location word after di to be more specific. For instance, Kita di kedai ("We are at the shop") or Kita di Kuala Lumpur ("We are in Kuala Lumpur"). The structure remains the same; only the location word changes.