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Konsert hiburan itu sangat popular.

Konsert hiburan itu sangat popular.
That entertainment concert is very popular.
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Questions & Answers about Konsert hiburan itu sangat popular.

What is the function of itu in this sentence, and why does it come after konsert hiburan?

Itu is a demonstrative that usually corresponds to that (and very often also to the) in English.

In Malay, demonstratives like itu (that) and ini (this) normally come after the noun phrase:

  • konsert hiburan itu = that / the entertainment concert
  • buku ini = this book

So konsert hiburan itu is one complete noun phrase: that entertainment concert.
Putting itu in front (itu konsert hiburan) is either wrong or, in limited contexts, sounds marked/poetic, not neutral standard Malay.

Does itu mean that or the here?

Literally, itu means that, but in real usage it often overlaps with the.

  • If the context is contrasting with other concerts, itu will feel like that concert.
  • If both the speaker and listener already know which concert is being talked about, it can feel like the entertainment concert.

Malay does not have a separate word for the, so itu often carries both that/the nuance depending on context.

Why is there no verb like to be (am / is / are) between konsert hiburan itu and sangat popular?

Malay normally does not use a copula verb (like English to be) before adjectives.

The pattern is simply:

  • [noun phrase] + [adjective phrase]

So:

  • Konsert hiburan itu sangat popular.
    = That entertainment concert (is) very popular.

You do not say Konsert hiburan itu adalah sangat popular in neutral, everyday speech.
Adalah is used in more formal or specific situations (often before nouns, not adjectives), for example:

  • Konsert itu adalah satu kejayaan besar.
    = That concert was a big success.
What exactly does hiburan mean, and why is it used after konsert?

Hiburan means entertainment. It is a noun derived from the root hibur (to entertain).

In konsert hiburan:

  • konsert = concert
  • hiburan = entertainment

Malay often uses a noun after another noun to describe the type or category:

  • konsert hiburan = an entertainment-type concert / variety show
  • konsert amal = charity concert
  • konsert rock = rock concert

So hiburan is functioning like a classifier or describing noun, not an adjective in form, but it plays a descriptive role: an entertainment concert.

Could I just say Konsert itu sangat popular? What difference does dropping hiburan make?

Yes, Konsert itu sangat popular is grammatically correct.

Differences:

  • Konsert itu sangat popular.
    = That concert is very popular. (General; no information about what kind of concert.)

  • Konsert hiburan itu sangat popular.
    = That entertainment concert is very popular. (More specific: it’s not, say, a formal classical concert, but an entertainment-focused one.)

So hiburan narrows down the type of concert.

Is hiburan an adjective or a noun here?

Formally, hiburan is a noun meaning entertainment.

However, Malay allows nouns to modify other nouns directly, so hiburan is:

  • a noun in form
  • doing a descriptive job (like an adjective) in konsert hiburan

This kind of structure is very common:

  • filem komedi = comedy film
  • majalah fesyen = fashion magazine
  • program hiburan = entertainment program
What does sangat mean, and are there other common words that mean something similar?

Sangat means very or really (high degree).

In sangat popular, it intensifies the adjective popular:

  • popular = popular
  • sangat popular = very popular / highly popular

Other similar intensifiers:

  • amat – very (slightly more formal / literary)
  • sungguh – truly / really
  • begitu – so (as in so popular)
  • terlalu – too (often implies excessive, e.g. terlalu mahal = too expensive)

So you could also hear:

  • Konsert hiburan itu amat popular.
  • Konsert hiburan itu begitu popular.
Can sangat go after popular, like Konsert hiburan itu popular sangat?

In standard Malay, the neutral position is:

  • sangat + adjective → sangat popular

You can hear popular sangat in colloquial / informal speech, especially in some regions:

  • Konsert hiburan itu popular sangat.

This sounds casual and spoken, not formal written Malay. For learners aiming at standard usage, stick to:

  • sangat popular.
Why is popular spelled almost like English popular? Is it pronounced the same?

Popular in Malay is a loanword from English, so the spelling is very similar.

Pronunciation differences:

  • Each syllable is clearly pronounced: po-pu-lar
  • The r at the end is usually pronounced (tapped or lightly trilled), unlike many English accents.
  • Vowels are more pure and steady:
    • po like po in poker (but shorter)
    • pu like poo but shorter
    • lar with a clear a (like in father) and an audible *r

So it is recognisable to an English speaker, but follows Malay pronunciation rules.

Are there more “native” Malay words I could use instead of popular?

Yes, there are several common alternatives, depending on nuance:

  • terkenal – well-known / famous
  • masyhur – famous (more literary / formal)
  • laku – selling well / in high demand (often for products, shows, etc.)

Examples:

  • Konsert hiburan itu sangat terkenal.
    = That entertainment concert is very well-known.

  • Konsert hiburan itu sangat laku.
    = That entertainment concert sells very well / draws big crowds.

Popular is perfectly normal and widely used, especially in modern and urban contexts.

How would I make the noun plural, like those entertainment concerts are very popular?

Malay does not always mark plural explicitly; context often shows whether it’s singular or plural.

  1. Rely on context (most common):

    • Konsert hiburan itu sangat popular.
      Could mean That entertainment concert is very popular or
      Those entertainment concerts are very popular, depending on context.

  2. Explicit plural with duplication:

    • Konsert-konsert hiburan itu sangat popular.
      = Those entertainment concerts are very popular.

  3. Use banyak (many):

    • Banyak konsert hiburan sangat popular.
      = Many entertainment concerts are very popular.

In careful writing, konsert-konsert makes the plurality very clear.

How would I make this negative: That entertainment concert is not very popular?

Use tidak (not) before the adjective phrase:

  • Konsert hiburan itu tidak popular.
    = That entertainment concert is not popular.

If you want to keep sangat:

  • Konsert hiburan itu tidak begitu popular.
    = That entertainment concert is not that popular.

Using tidak sangat popular is possible but tidak begitu popular or kurang popular (less / not very popular) sounds more natural:

  • Konsert hiburan itu kurang popular.
    = That entertainment concert is not very popular / less popular.
How would this be said in very casual spoken Malay?

In casual speech, people often shorten itu to tu, and may relax pronunciation:

  • Konsert hiburan tu sangat popular.

Other very colloquial possibilities include:

  • Konsert hiburan tu popular gila.
    (That entertainment concert is insanely popular. – very slangy, gila = crazy.)

For learners, Konsert hiburan itu sangat popular is a good, neutral standard form, while Konsert hiburan tu sangat popular is what you might hear among friends.