Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Malay grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Rumah saya hijau.
What does each word in "Rumah saya hijau" mean?
The word rumah means house, saya functions as a possessive pronoun meaning my, and hijau means green. So, the sentence translates to "My house is green."
Why is the adjective hijau placed after rumah instead of before it like in English?
In Malay, adjectives typically follow the noun they describe. Instead of saying "green house" as in English, Malay uses "rumah hijau" which literally means "house green." This is the standard word order for adjectives in Malay.
How is possession indicated in this sentence, and why does saya come after rumah?
Malay expresses possession by placing the possessor after the noun rather than before it. Thus, rumah saya directly translates as "house my", which in context means "my house." This differs from English, where the possessive pronoun typically precedes the noun.
Is a linking verb like "is" required in Malay sentences such as this one?
No, Malay sentences often omit the linking verb. In "Rumah saya hijau," the idea of "is" is implied, so there is no need for an explicit equivalent. The sentence still clearly communicates "My house is green."
Can the structure used in "Rumah saya hijau" be applied to form other descriptive sentences in Malay?
Yes, the pattern of [noun] + [possessive] + [adjective] is common in Malay. This structure can be used to describe various objects or subjects. For example, "Buku saya baru" means "My book is new," following the same word order.