Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Malay grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Kesihatan kita penting.
What does kesihatan mean in Malay?
Kesihatan is a noun meaning health. It comes from the root sehat (healthy) plus the suffix -an, which turns an adjective into an abstract noun.
Why is there no word for “is” (a copula) in this sentence?
In Malay, linking verbs like “is” are often omitted in simple present-tense statements. The structure [Subject] + [Predicate Adjective] inherently means “Subject is Adjective.” If you need to be more formal or explicit, you can insert adalah (is):
• Kesihatan kita adalah penting.
Why does kita mean “our” here, and how is it different from kami?
Kita is the first-person plural inclusive pronoun—it means “we/us” including the person you’re speaking to, so kita = “our” (including you).
Kami is first-person plural exclusive, excluding the listener, so kami = “our” (not including you).
Why is the possessive pronoun placed after the noun in kesihatan kita?
Malay uses the order [Noun] + [Possessive Pronoun] for possession. Unlike English (“our health”), Malay puts the pronoun after the noun: kesihatan (health) + kita (our).