Ikan itu terlepas.

In Malay, demonstratives usually come after the noun.

• ikan itu = that fish / the fish
• not itu ikan in normal noun phrase order

So the pattern is:

• noun + itu = that/the ...
• noun + ini = this ...

This is one of the first word-order differences English speakers notice.

It can mean that fish, but in many contexts it also works a lot like the fish.

So ikan itu terlepas may be understood as:

• That fish escaped
• The fish got away

Malay does not mark definiteness in exactly the same way English does, so itu often helps point to something known, specific, or already mentioned.

Terlepas usually means something like:

• escaped
• got away
• came loose
• slipped free

In this sentence, it suggests that the fish is no longer being held, caught, or contained.

Depending on context, ikan itu terlepas could describe:

• a fish escaping from a net or hook
• a fish slipping out of someone’s hands
• a fish getting loose from a container

The prefix ter- often gives a meaning like:

• an action happening unintentionally
• a resulting state
• something that happens by itself or is experienced rather than actively done

So terlepas is not the same as a straightforward active verb like melepaskan.

A useful contrast:

• melepaskan ikan itu = to release the fish / to let the fish go
• ikan itu terlepas = the fish got away / the fish escaped

So terlepas focuses on what happened to the fish, often with an accidental or uncontrolled feel.

Not exactly in the same way as a normal passive.

English speakers often try to label everything as active or passive, but ter- forms do not always match English grammar neatly. Terlepas often describes a state or unintended event rather than a regular passive action.

So:

• Ikan itu dilepaskan = The fish was released
  This is a clearer passive idea: someone released it.
• Ikan itu terlepas = The fish got away / came loose / escaped
  This focuses more on the result or accidental event.

So it is better to think of terlepas as an accidental/resultative kind of form, not just a plain passive.

Malay often leaves out the verb to be when English would use is/are.

So Ikan itu terlepas does not need a separate word for is.

Malay commonly allows sentences like:

• Dia sakit = He/She is sick
• Rumah itu besar = That house is big
• Ikan itu terlepas = The fish got away / That fish is loose

This is very normal in Malay.

Malay verbs usually do not change form for tense the way English verbs do.

So terlepas by itself does not tell you whether the action is:

• past: The fish escaped
• present: The fish has got loose / is loose
• sometimes even a general statement, depending on context

Time is usually understood from context or from time words such as:

• semalam = yesterday
• tadi = just now / earlier
• sudah = already
• akan = will

So without extra context, Ikan itu terlepas is tense-neutral and is interpreted from the situation.

Usually, no—not as the most natural meaning.

The fish was released is more naturally:

• Ikan itu dilepaskan

That form suggests that someone performed the action of releasing it.

By contrast:

• Ikan itu terlepas suggests the fish got away, escaped, or came loose, often not fully on purpose.

So if you want to say someone intentionally released the fish, dilepaskan is usually better.

By itself, ikan can mean fish or fishes, depending on context. Malay nouns do not have to change form for singular/plural.

However, in ikan itu, the most natural reading is usually that fish or the fish as a singular specific fish.

If you really wanted to make plurality clear, context or extra words would help.

A simple pronunciation guide is:

• terlepas ≈ ter-luh-pahs

Very roughly:

• ter: the e is often like the weak vowel in about
• le: also a light uh sound
• pas: like pahs

Stress in Malay is usually not as strong or dramatic as in English, so try to say it smoothly rather than heavily stressing one syllable.