itu
Itu Meaning That
Itu is the Indonesian word for that or those. It can stand alone as a pronoun (e.g., 'That is a book' or 'Those are books') or refer back to an idea mentioned earlier.
How It Works
The word itu is one of the most versatile words in Indonesian. At Level 1, we focus on its role as a pronoun.
1. Physical Distance (Singular and Plural)
Just like the English word 'that', itu is used to point to something that is not near the speaker. Because Indonesian does not change words for plural forms, itu also translates to 'those'. For example, Itu kucing can mean 'That is a cat' OR 'Those are cats', depending on the context. If the object is near the speaker, you would use ini (this/these) instead.
2. Referring to Ideas (Anaphoric Use)
Itu is frequently used to refer to something that was just said or an abstract situation. For example, if someone tells you a fact, you might say Itu benar ('That is true').
3. Sentence Position
As a pronoun, itu can occupy both the subject position (e.g., Itu kucing - 'That is a cat' / 'Those are cats') and the object position (e.g., Saya mau itu - 'I want that' / 'I want those'). Unlike English, Indonesian often uses a noun or adjective as a predicate without needing a word for 'is' or 'are'.
4. Pronoun vs. Determiner
Be careful not to confuse the pronoun with itu after a noun. When itu comes after a noun (e.g., buku itu), it means 'that book' or 'those books'. Because Indonesian does not have a dedicated word for 'the', itu is also one of the primary ways to express the definite article (e.g., 'the book' or 'the books'), alongside the suffix -nya. When it stands alone (e.g., Itu buku), it means 'That is a book' or 'Those are books'.
5. Pointing to People
In Indonesian, itu can naturally identify or point to people (for example, Siapa itu? - 'Who is that?'). However, once a person has been identified, you should use personal pronouns like dia or beliau (he/she) to talk about them. Demonstrative reference can sound distancing in some contexts, but is not automatically dehumanizing. Politeness depends on the wording, tone, relationship, and situation.
6. 'That One' (Yang Itu)
When choosing between options, itu is frequently paired with yang to form yang itu ('that one'). For example, instead of just saying Saya mau itu, it is often more natural to say Saya mau yang itu ('I want that one').
7. Topic Marker or Pseudo-Copula
After a subject noun phrase, itu can highlight that subject and separate it from its predicate, as in Cinta itu buta ('Love is blind'). English may translate this position with 'is/are,' but itu is functioning as a topic marker rather than as a true verb 'to be.'
8. Casual Speech
In very casual conversation, itu is often shortened to tuh, and in texting or internet slang, it is frequently abbreviated as tu. While it can replace the subject, it is very common to see tuh moved to the end of a phrase for emphasis (e.g., Kucingnya yang itu tuh! - 'The cat is that one right there!').
Examples (6)
- Itu apa?
What is that?
Word by Word: That what?
A basic question using 'itu' as the subject to identify a distant object.
- Saya mau itu.
I want that.
Word by Word: I want that.
This shows 'itu' functioning as the object of the sentence.
- Itu bukan milik saya.
That is not mine.
Word by Word: That not property I.
Here, 'itu' stands alone as the subject. 'Bukan' is used to negate the noun phrase 'milik saya'.
- Itu masalah besar.
That is a big problem.
Word by Word: That problem big.
In this case, 'itu' refers to a situation or an idea rather than a physical object.
- Itu kucing.
That is a cat.
Word by Word: That cat.
A simple sentence showing that Indonesian does not require a 'to be' verb between the pronoun and the noun.
- Itu sangat bagus!
That is very good!
Word by Word: That very good!
Using 'itu' with an adjective predicate to give an opinion on something.
Common Mistakes
Using 'itu' for the English dummy 'it'.
Itu sedang hujan.Sedang hujan.English uses 'it' as a placeholder in 'It is raining,' but Indonesian does not. You should not use 'itu' for weather or time unless you are specifically pointing at something.
Confusing 'itu' (that) with 'ini' (this).
Itu di tangan saya.Ini di tangan saya.Ini is the ordinary choice when directly pointing to something near you. Itu can refer back to something already mentioned, even if it is now nearby. The correction suits immediate pointing; the original can be grammatical with an established referent.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'itu' as a standalone pronoun, you must first be familiar with its basic meaning as a demonstrative and understand how Indonesian sentences function without a copula verb.
- Noun + ituThat After the Noun
Understanding 'itu' as a demonstrative adjective provides the foundational meaning of the word before it is used independently as a pronoun.
Level 1 - Nouns can be simple predicates
When 'itu' is used as a pronoun subject (e.g., 'Itu buku'), it often relies on the Indonesian rule that allows nouns to serve as predicates without a 'to be' verb.
Level 1 - Adjectives can be predicates
Using 'itu' as a pronoun often involves describing it with an adjective (e.g., 'Itu besar'), which requires knowing that no copula is needed between the subject and the adjective.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- iniIni Meaning This
'Ini' is the direct counterpart to 'itu', meaning 'this' (near the speaker).
Level 1 - bukanNegating Nouns with Bukan
'Bukan' is the specific word used to negate 'itu' when the following word is a noun.
Level 1 - diaThird-person Dia
Dia is an ordinary personal pronoun for an established person. Itu can identify people too, with its appropriateness depending on context and tone.
Level 1 - Context marks a known noun
'Itu' is often used to provide definiteness to a sentence, similar to the English word 'the'.
Level 1
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Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice itu in Bubblegum
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