Nenek saya tua tetapi masih kuat.

My grandmother is old but still strong.

Breakdown of Nenek saya tua tetapi masih kuat.

• adalah: to be
• saya: my
• masih: still
• tetapi: but
• kuat: strong
• nenek: the grandmother
• tua: old

Questions & Answers about Nenek saya tua tetapi masih kuat.

What does each word in Nenek saya tua tetapi masih kuat mean literally?

Word-by-word:

• nenek = grandmother / grandma (also can mean an old lady, depending on context)
• saya = I / me, but after a noun it means my
• tua = old (for people, animals, some things)
• tetapi = but, however
• masih = still (continuing state)
• kuat = strong

So the structure is literally: Grandmother my old but still strong.

Why is there no word for “is” in this sentence?

Malay normally does not use a verb like “to be” (is / am / are) before adjectives or nouns in simple present tense statements.

So instead of saying:

• Nenek saya adalah tua… (with a “be” verb)

Malay simply says:

• Nenek saya tua…

The adjective tua itself functions as the “verb phrase” here. The listener understands it as “My grandmother is old” without needing an extra word for “is.”

Why is it “nenek saya” and not “saya nenek” for “my grandmother”?

In Malay, the possessed noun normally comes first, and the possessor (the owner) comes after it:

• nenek saya = grandmother + I = my grandmother
• buku saya = book + I = my book
• kereta dia = car + s/he = his/her car

So:

• nenek saya = my grandmother
• saya nenek sounds wrong / meaningless in standard Malay. It would be interpreted more like “I (am) grandmother,” and even that is ungrammatical without extra words.

Can I also say “saya punya nenek” or “nenekku”? What’s the difference from “nenek saya”?

Yes, there are other ways to say “my grandmother.”

1. nenek saya

   • Very common, neutral, and correct in both spoken and written Malay.

2. saya punya nenek (literally: “I have grandmother” / “I own grandmother”)

   • Used in casual speech.
   • Slightly more colloquial / informal.
   • You would not usually choose this in formal writing.

3. nenekku

   • -ku is a possessive suffix meaning “my.”
   • Feels a bit literary, poetic, or emotional in modern usage, though you may still hear it informally.
   • Common in songs, poems, stories, or when you want a warmer, more intimate tone.

All three can mean “my grandmother,” but nenek saya is the safest and most neutral choice.

What is the difference between tua and lama, since both can mean “old”?

Both can translate as “old,” but they’re used differently:

• tua

  • Mainly for living beings (people, animals).
  • Can also be used metaphorically (e.g. pokok tua = old tree).
  • Example: Dia sudah tua. = He/She is already old.

• lama

  • Mainly for objects, times, situations.
  • Often has a sense of long duration or has been around a long time.
  • Example: rumah lama = old house; sudah lama = for a long time / a long time already.

So in your sentence, because it’s about a person (nenek), tua is the correct word, not lama.

What’s the difference between tetapi and tapi?

Both mean “but / however.” The difference is mainly formality:

• tetapi

  • More formal / standard.
  • Common in writing, speeches, news, and polite conversation.

• tapi

  • More informal / colloquial.
  • Used a lot in everyday speech.

You could say:

• Nenek saya tua tetapi masih kuat. (neutral–formal)
• Nenek saya tua tapi masih kuat. (more casual)

Both are grammatically correct.

What does masih mean exactly, and where does it go in the sentence?

masih means “still” in the sense of a state that continues.

• masih kuat = still strong
• masih muda = still young
• masih belajar = still studying / still learning

Position: masih comes before the adjective or verb it modifies:

• ✅ masih kuat (still strong)
• ❌ kuat masih (not natural)

So, tetapi masih kuat is literally “but still strong.”

Does kuat only mean “physically strong,” or can it have other meanings?

kuat mainly means “strong,” but it can be used in several senses:

1. Physical strength

   • Dia kuat. = He/She is strong.

2. Durability / robustness

   • Jambatan itu kuat. = That bridge is strong / sturdy.

3. Intensity / high degree

   • Bau ini kuat. = This smell is strong.
   • Hujan kuat. = Heavy rain.

In your sentence, masih kuat most naturally means “still physically strong/healthy,” though it can also suggest general robustness (physically and mentally).

Can nenek mean any old woman, or only “my grandmother”?

nenek is primarily “grandmother / grandma.”

However, in some contexts, especially in speech, nenek (or makcik / mak cik) might be used to refer to an elderly woman in a familiar or respectful way, similar to calling someone “grandma” in English even if she isn’t your literal grandmother.

In your sentence, because you say nenek saya, it clearly means “my grandmother.”

Is this sentence formal, informal, or neutral?

Nenek saya tua tetapi masih kuat. is neutral and widely acceptable:

• Fine in normal conversation.
• Fine in most kinds of writing.

If you wanted it a bit more conversational, you might say:

• Nenek saya dah tua tapi masih kuat. (using dah = already, and tapi)

For very formal writing, you might expand or adjust the structure, but the original sentence is perfectly correct and natural.

Can I add “already” to emphasize that she is old, like “already old but still strong”?

Yes, you can add sudah (or dah in informal speech):

• Nenek saya sudah tua tetapi masih kuat.
  = My grandmother is already old but still strong.

Notes:

• sudah = already (neutral/formal)
• dah = colloquial shortening of sudah (informal speech)

Meaning-wise, adding sudah emphasizes that the state of being old has already been reached.

How would I say “My grandmother is not old yet” using this pattern?

Use belum (“not yet”) plus the adjective:

• Nenek saya belum tua.
  = My grandmother is not old yet.

A few related patterns:

• Nenek saya belum tua tetapi sudah kuat.
  = My grandmother is not old yet but is already strong.
• Nenek saya belum tua tetapi sangat kuat.
  = My grandmother is not old yet, but (she is) very strong.