Aku suka jersi itu.

A simple breakdown is:

• Aku = I
• suka = like
• jersi = jersey
• itu = that

So the structure is basically:

• Aku → subject
• suka → verb
• jersi itu → object noun phrase, meaning that jersey

In Malay, demonstratives like ini (this) and itu (that) normally come after the noun, not before it.

So:

• jersi itu = that jersey
• jersi ini = this jersey

This is very normal in Malay. English says that jersey, but Malay says the equivalent of jersey that.

Yes, you can often say saya instead.

The difference is mainly register:

• aku = informal, casual, personal
• saya = more neutral, polite, standard

So:

• Aku suka jersi itu sounds casual and natural among friends or in informal speech.
• Saya suka jersi itu sounds more polite or formal.

A native English speaker should be careful with aku at first, because it can sound too blunt in the wrong situation. If you are unsure, saya is usually safer.

Yes, in this sentence it is very similar to English:

• Aku = subject
• suka = verb
• jersi itu = object

So it follows a Subject–Verb–Object pattern:

• Aku suka jersi itu
• I like that jersey

That said, Malay word order is not always identical to English, especially with modifiers and certain sentence types, but this sentence is straightforward.

No separate word is needed here.

Malay does not use articles the way English does. There is no direct equivalent that must always appear for:

• a
• an
• the

Whether something is a jersey or the jersey often depends on context.

In jersi itu, the word itu already makes it specific: that jersey. So English naturally uses that, not just the.

No. Malay verbs do not conjugate the way English verbs do.

So suka stays suka regardless of the subject:

• Aku suka = I like
• Dia suka = he/she likes
• Mereka suka = they like

Malay also does not mark tense on the verb the same way English does. If you want to show time, you usually add a time word or context:

• Aku suka jersi itu = I like that jersey
• Dulu aku suka jersi itu = I used to like that jersey
• Aku akan suka jersi itu = I will like that jersey

It is a borrowed word, and that is very common in Malay.

Jersi comes from English jersey, adapted to Malay spelling and pronunciation. Malay uses many loanwords, especially for modern objects, clothing, technology, and sports.

So for an English speaker, jersi is a helpful word because it is easy to recognize.

Yes, depending on what you mean.

For example:

• jersi usually refers specifically to a jersey, especially in a sports context
• baju is a more general word for clothes or a shirt/top

So if you specifically mean a football shirt or sports jersey, jersi is a good choice. If you say baju itu, that means that shirt/clothing item, which is broader and less specific.

Sometimes yes, if the subject is already clear from context.

Malay often omits subjects when they are understood. So in conversation, someone might just say:

• Suka jersi itu.

This can mean I like that jersey if the context makes it obvious.

However, for learners, including the subject is usually clearer and safer:

• Aku suka jersi itu.

A rough guide for an English speaker:

• Aku ≈ ah-koo
• suka ≈ soo-kah
• jersi ≈ jer-see
• itu ≈ ee-too

A few helpful notes:

• Malay pronunciation is generally quite regular.
• The r in jersi is usually pronounced lightly.
• Vowels are usually pronounced clearly, not reduced as much as in English.

A rough full pronunciation would be:

• ah-koo soo-kah jer-see ee-too

Yes. That changes that to this.

• jersi itu = that jersey
• jersi ini = this jersey

So:

• Aku suka jersi itu = I like that jersey
• Aku suka jersi ini = I like this jersey

This is a very useful pair to remember:

• ini = this
• itu = that

No, not in a basic sentence like this.

You can directly say:

• Aku suka jersi itu

Malay does not need an extra preposition here. The verb suka can take its object directly.

English learners sometimes expect something like I like to/for that jersey, but Malay does not work that way in this sentence.

Yes, it is natural, especially in informal speech.

A few natural variants are:

• Aku suka jersi itu → casual
• Saya suka jersi itu → more polite/neutral

So the sentence itself is perfectly normal. The main thing to watch is whether aku fits the social situation.