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Definition for Autodidacts: The word "itu" in Indonesian serves as a demonstrative pronoun meaning "that" and often functions as the equivalent of "it" in English. Unlike English which has a specific neuter pronoun "it," Indonesian uses demonstratives and context to express this concept. The word "itu" literally means "that" but frequently translates to "it" when referring to previously mentioned objects, concepts, or situations.
This lesson is part of the Latinum Institute's comprehensive Indonesian language course. For the complete course index, visit: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ: What does "itu" mean in Indonesian? Answer: "Itu" is a demonstrative pronoun meaning "that" or "it" in Indonesian. It points to something previously mentioned or something at a distance from the speaker. Indonesian doesn't have a direct equivalent to the English pronoun "it" - instead using demonstratives like "itu" (that) and "ini" (this), or omitting the pronoun entirely when context is clear.
In the following 15 examples, you'll see how "itu" functions in various contexts - as a subject, pointing to objects, referring to abstract concepts, and in common Indonesian expressions. The word appears in different positions within sentences to help you understand Indonesian word order, which follows a Subject-Verb-Object pattern but with considerable flexibility.
Educational Note: This material is designed for language learning using the interlinear method developed by the Latinum Institute.
Key Takeaways: -
"Itu" means "that" but often translates as "it" in English -
Indonesian frequently omits pronouns when context is clear -
Position of "itu" can vary in sentences for emphasis -
The suffix "-nya" can also express "it" as an object or possessive
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10.1 Itu that/it buku book saya my/I
10.2 Saya I suka like itu that/it
10.3 Itu that/it sangat very mahal expensive
10.4 Dia he/she membeli buys itu that/it kemarin yesterday
10.5 Itu that/it tidak not benar correct/true
10.6 Kami we melihat see itu that/it di at pasar market
10.7 Apakah QUESTION itu that/it milik possession kamu you
10.8 Itu that/it terlalu too besar big untuk for tas bag ini this
10.9 Mereka they membawa bring itu that/it ke to rumah house
10.10 Itu that/it adalah is hadiah gift dari from ibu mother
10.11 Saya I tidak not mengerti understand itu that/it
10.12 Itu that/it terlihat looks seperti like kucing cat
10.13 Bisakah can-QUESTION kamu you mengambil take itu that/it
10.14 Itu that/it sudah already rusak broken
10.15 Dia he/she menaruh puts itu that/it di on meja table
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10.1 Itu buku saya. That is my book. / It's my book.
10.2 Saya suka itu. I like that. / I like it.
10.3 Itu sangat mahal. That is very expensive. / It's very expensive.
10.4 Dia membeli itu kemarin. He bought that yesterday. / He bought it yesterday.
10.5 Itu tidak benar. That is not correct. / It's not true.
10.6 Kami melihat itu di pasar. We saw that at the market. / We saw it at the market.
10.7 Apakah itu milik kamu? Is that yours? / Is it yours?
10.8 Itu terlalu besar untuk tas ini. That is too big for this bag. / It's too big for this bag.
10.9 Mereka membawa itu ke rumah. They brought that home. / They brought it home.
10.10 Itu adalah hadiah dari ibu. That is a gift from mother. / It's a gift from mother.
10.11 Saya tidak mengerti itu. I don't understand that. / I don't understand it.
10.12 Itu terlihat seperti kucing. That looks like a cat. / It looks like a cat.
10.13 Bisakah kamu mengambil itu? Can you take that? / Can you get it?
10.14 Itu sudah rusak. That is already broken. / It's broken.
10.15 Dia menaruh itu di meja. She put that on the table. / She put it on the table.
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10.1 Itu buku saya.
10.2 Saya suka itu.
10.3 Itu sangat mahal.
10.4 Dia membeli itu kemarin.
10.5 Itu tidak benar.
10.6 Kami melihat itu di pasar.
10.7 Apakah itu milik kamu?
10.8 Itu terlalu besar untuk tas ini.
10.9 Mereka membawa itu ke rumah.
10.10 Itu adalah hadiah dari ibu.
10.11 Saya tidak mengerti itu.
10.12 Itu terlihat seperti kucing.
10.13 Bisakah kamu mengambil itu?
10.14 Itu sudah rusak.
10.15 Dia menaruh itu di meja.
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These are the grammar rules for "itu" in Indonesian:
Basic Function: "Itu" is a demonstrative pronoun meaning "that" which often corresponds to English "it." Indonesian lacks a specific neuter pronoun like English "it," instead using demonstratives (itu/ini) or omitting the pronoun when context is clear.
Word Order: Indonesian follows Subject-Verb-Object order, but "itu" can appear in various positions: -
Subject position: "Itu mahal" (That/It is expensive) -
Object position: "Saya suka itu" (I like that/it) -
After noun as demonstrative: "Buku itu" (That book)
Common Patterns: -
"Itu adalah..." = "That/It is..." (formal) -
"Itu..." = "That's/It's..." (informal, "adalah" often omitted) -
Question formation: "Apakah itu...?" = "Is that/it...?"
Alternative Forms: -
"Ini" = this/it (for nearby objects) -
"-nya" = it/its (as object suffix or possessive) -
Pronoun often omitted when clear from context
Common Mistakes: -
Overusing "itu" - Indonesian often omits pronouns when context is clear -
Confusing "itu" (that) with "ini" (this) based on distance -
Forgetting that "itu" can follow nouns: "rumah itu" (that house) -
Using "itu" where "-nya" suffix would be more natural
Step-by-Step Usage Guide: -
Use "itu" to point to something previously mentioned -
Place "itu" at the beginning for emphasis on "it/that" -
Use after nouns to specify "that particular one" -
In formal writing, use "itu adalah" rather than just "itu" -
Remember context often makes pronouns unnecessary
Grammatical Summary: "Itu" functions as: demonstrative pronoun (that), subject pronoun (it), object pronoun (it), demonstrative adjective (that + noun). Position flexible but meaning changes with placement. No gender or number agreement required. Can be emphasized by repetition: "Itu, itu!" (That one, that one!).
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Usage in Formal vs Informal Contexts: In formal Indonesian (bahasa baku), "itu" is often accompanied by "adalah" when used as a copula: "Itu adalah keputusan yang tepat" (That/It is the right decision). In casual conversation, "adalah" is frequently dropped: "Itu keputusan yang tepat." Government documents and academic texts maintain the formal structure.
Regional Variations: Jakarta dialect often shortens "itu" to "tu" in rapid speech. Eastern Indonesian regions may use local demonstratives alongside or instead of "itu." In Javanese-influenced Indonesian, "iku" sometimes appears instead of "itu."
Idiomatic Expressions: -
"Itu dia!" = "That's it!/There you go!" -
"Kalau begitu" = "If (it is) like that/In that case" -
"Itu sih" = "Well, that's..." (expressing mild disagreement) -
"Gitu aja" = "Just like that/That's all" -
"Itu-itu saja" = "The same old thing"
Politeness Levels: While "itu" itself is neutral, its usage can affect politeness. Pointing with "itu" at people is considered rude. Use titles or names instead. In formal situations, prefer longer constructions: "Hal itu" (that matter) rather than just "itu."
False Friends with English: English speakers often overuse "itu" for "it" when Indonesian would omit the pronoun entirely. For example, "Hujan" (Raining) is complete without "Itu hujan" (It's raining).
Register and Context: News broadcasts use "itu" formally: "Peristiwa itu terjadi kemarin" (That event occurred yesterday). Text messages often drop it entirely or abbreviate. Marketing language emphasizes it: "Itu yang Anda cari!" (That's what you're looking for!).
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From "Laskar Pelangi" (The Rainbow Troops) by Andrea Hirata (2005):
"Itu adalah hari pertama aku masuk SD Muhammadiyah. Saat itu aku duduk di bangku kelas satu. Hari itu, hari yang dinanti-nanti, hari pertama masuk sekolah. Namun, itu juga hari yang menegangkan karena sekolah kami terancam ditutup jika murid yang mendaftar tidak sampai sepuluh orang. Itu sebabnya kami berkumpul di sana dengan cemas."
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Itu that/it adalah was hari day pertama first aku I masuk enter SD elementary-school Muhammadiyah Muhammadiyah. Saat moment itu that aku I duduk sit di at bangku bench kelas class satu one. Hari day itu that, hari day yang which dinanti-nanti awaited-eagerly, hari day pertama first masuk enter sekolah school. Namun however, itu that/it juga also hari day yang which menegangkan tense karena because sekolah school kami our terancam threatened ditutup closed-PASSIVE jika if murid student yang who mendaftar register tidak not sampai reach sepuluh ten orang person. Itu that sebabnya reason-its kami we berkumpul gather di at sana there dengan with cemas anxious.
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Itu adalah hari pertama aku masuk SD Muhammadiyah. Saat itu aku duduk di bangku kelas satu. Hari itu, hari yang dinanti-nanti, hari pertama masuk sekolah. Namun, itu juga hari yang menegangkan karena sekolah kami terancam ditutup jika murid yang mendaftar tidak sampai sepuluh orang. Itu sebabnya kami berkumpul di sana dengan cemas.
That was my first day entering Muhammadiyah Elementary School. At that time I was in first grade. That day, the long-awaited day, the first day of school. However, it was also a tense day because our school was threatened with closure if the students who registered didn't reach ten people. That's why we gathered there anxiously.
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Itu adalah hari pertama aku masuk SD Muhammadiyah. Saat itu aku duduk di bangku kelas satu. Hari itu, hari yang dinanti-nanti, hari pertama masuk sekolah. Namun, itu juga hari yang menegangkan karena sekolah kami terancam ditutup jika murid yang mendaftar tidak sampai sepuluh orang. Itu sebabnya kami berkumpul di sana dengan cemas.
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This passage demonstrates multiple uses of "itu": -
"Itu adalah" - formal copula construction (That was) -
"Saat itu" - temporal reference (At that time) -
"Hari itu" - demonstrative after noun (That day) -
"Itu juga" - subject position with "juga" (It also) -
"Itu sebabnya" - idiomatic expression (That's why)
Key vocabulary: "dinanti-nanti" (eagerly awaited) uses reduplication for emphasis; "terancam ditutup" (threatened to be closed) shows passive construction; "tidak sampai" (not reaching) indicates falling short of a target; "sebabnya" combines "sebab" (reason) with "-nya" (its) suffix.
The passage shows how "itu" creates coherence by referring back to previously mentioned concepts, essential for narrative flow in Indonesian storytelling.
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10.16 Berapa how-much harga price itu that pak sir
10.17 Itu that yang which merah red atau or yang which biru blue
10.18 Oh oh itu that bagus good sekali very
10.19 Boleh may saya I coba try itu that dulu first
10.20 Maaf sorry itu that tidak not dijual sold-PASSIVE
10.21 Itu that buatan made mana where ya PARTICLE
10.22 Kalau if itu that terlalu too mahal expensive bagaimana how dengan with ini this
10.23 Itu that cocok suitable untuk for anak-anak children tidak not
10.24 Saya I pikir think itu that ukuran size M M
10.25 Itu that ada exist warna color lain other tidak not
10.26 Tolong please bungkus wrap itu that yang which rapi neat
10.27 Itu that bisa can dikirim sent-PASSIVE ke to alamat address ini this
10.28 Kapan when itu that datang come lagi again
10.29 Itu that garansi warranty berapa how-many lama long
10.30 Terima receive kasih thank itu that sempurna perfect
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10.16 Berapa harga itu, pak? How much is that, sir?
10.17 Itu yang merah atau yang biru? That red one or the blue one?
10.18 Oh, itu bagus sekali! Oh, that's very nice!
10.19 Boleh saya coba itu dulu? May I try that first?
10.20 Maaf, itu tidak dijual. Sorry, that's not for sale.
10.21 Itu buatan mana ya? Where is that made?
10.22 Kalau itu terlalu mahal, bagaimana dengan ini? If that's too expensive, how about this?
10.23 Itu cocok untuk anak-anak tidak? Is that suitable for children?
10.24 Saya pikir itu ukuran M. I think that's size M.
10.25 Itu ada warna lain tidak? Does that come in other colors?
10.26 Tolong bungkus itu yang rapi. Please wrap that neatly.
10.27 Itu bisa dikirim ke alamat ini? Can that be sent to this address?
10.28 Kapan itu datang lagi? When will that come in again?
10.29 Itu garansi berapa lama? How long is the warranty on that?
10.30 Terima kasih, itu sempurna! Thank you, that's perfect!
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10.16 Berapa harga itu, pak?
10.17 Itu yang merah atau yang biru?
10.18 Oh, itu bagus sekali!
10.19 Boleh saya coba itu dulu?
10.20 Maaf, itu tidak dijual.
10.21 Itu buatan mana ya?
10.22 Kalau itu terlalu mahal, bagaimana dengan ini?
10.23 Itu cocok untuk anak-anak tidak?
10.24 Saya pikir itu ukuran M.
10.25 Itu ada warna lain tidak?
10.26 Tolong bungkus itu yang rapi.
10.27 Itu bisa dikirim ke alamat ini?
10.28 Kapan itu datang lagi?
10.29 Itu garansi berapa lama?
10.30 Terima kasih, itu sempurna!
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This shopping dialogue demonstrates "itu" in transactional contexts. Common patterns include:
Question Formation: "Itu + question word" structure appears frequently - "Itu buatan mana?" (Where is that made?), "Itu garansi berapa lama?" (How long is that warranty?).
Demonstrative Clarification: "Itu yang merah" (that red one) shows how "yang" connects "itu" to descriptive phrases.
Passive Voice: "dijual" (sold), "dikirim" (sent) show Indonesian passive construction with di- prefix, common in commercial contexts.
Politeness Markers: "pak" (sir), "tolong" (please), "maaf" (sorry) frame requests politely. The particle "ya" softens questions.
Shopping Vocabulary: "harga" (price), "ukuran" (size), "warna" (color), "garansi" (warranty), "bungkus" (wrap) are essential commercial terms.
The conditional "kalau itu terlalu mahal" (if that's too expensive) shows "itu" in hypothetical constructions, useful for negotiations.
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Indonesian uses the Latin alphabet with consistent pronunciation rules:
Basic Sounds: -
"i" as in "machine" [i] -
"u" as in "food" [u] -
"e" has two sounds: schwa [ə] (unstressed) or "ay" [e] (stressed) -
"a" as in "father" [a] -
"o" as in "go" [o]
The word "itu": Pronounced [ee-too] with stress on the first syllable. The "i" is a clear front vowel, the "t" is unaspirated, and the "u" is a back rounded vowel.
Common Sound Patterns: -
No consonant clusters at word beginnings -
Final "k" is glottalized (stopped abruptly) -
"ng" represents a single sound [ŋ] as in "singing" -
"ny" represents [ɲ] similar to Spanish "ñ"
Stress Patterns: Generally on the penultimate (second-to-last) syllable, but exceptions exist. "Itu" follows this pattern with stress on "i".
Spelling Consistency: Indonesian orthography is highly regular - each letter typically represents one sound. No silent letters or irregular spellings common in English.
Audio Reference: For accurate pronunciation, consult Forvo.com or Google Translate's audio feature for native speaker examples.
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