Noun + itu

That After the Noun

Level 1

In Indonesian, itu follows a noun to point to something far away ('that') or to refer to something already mentioned ('the').

How It Works

The word itu is a foundational building block of Indonesian. It serves two primary roles:

1. Demonstrative ('That'/'Those'): It points to an object or person not near the speaker (often near the listener). Unlike English, itu remains the same for both singular and plural nouns.
2. Definite Marker ('The'): While Indonesian uses the suffix -nya for general definiteness, itu is used to refer back to a specific noun already mentioned (anaphoric).

Word Order:
In the basic noun phrases shown here, itu follows the noun and any adjective or possessor.

  • Noun + itu: Buku itu (The/That book)
  • Noun + Adjective + itu: Buku merah itu (The/That red book)
  • Noun + Possessor + itu: Buku saya itu (That book of mine)

Sentence vs. Phrase:
Be careful with placement! If you put itu first, it becomes the subject of a sentence:

  • Itu buku = That is a book.
  • Buku itu = That book / The book.

Examples (5)

  1. Rumah itu besar.

    That house is big.

    Word by Word: House that big.

    Here, 'itu' follows the noun 'rumah' to specify a house that is not near the speaker.

  2. Saya suka mobil merah itu.

    I like that red car.

    Word by Word: I like car red that.

    When an adjective like 'merah' (red) is used, 'itu' is placed at the very end of the noun phrase.

  3. Buku saya itu hilang.

    That book of mine is lost.

    Word by Word: Book my that lost.

    When showing possession, 'itu' comes after the possessor (saya).

  4. Anak-anak itu sedang tidur.

    Those children are sleeping.

    Word by Word: Children that [progressive] sleep.

    'Itu' does not change form for plural nouns; it can mean 'that' or 'those' depending on the context.

  5. Kucing itu lucu.

    The cat is cute.

    Word by Word: Cat that cute.

    'Itu' often acts as a definite marker (the) for a specific animal already mentioned in conversation.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing 'itu' before the noun to mean 'that [noun]'.

    Different MeaningItu buku saya.
    Buku saya itu.

    Itu buku saya is a correct sentence meaning 'That is my book.' To say 'that book of mine,' put 'itu' after the noun and any possessor: 'Buku saya itu'.

  • Using 'itu' for objects held by or very close to the speaker.

    Itu pulpen di tangan saya.
    Ini pulpen di tangan saya.

    Ini is the usual choice when directly pointing to an object in your hand. Itu can also refer back to an object already discussed, including one now nearby. Physical distance alone does not determine every discourse use.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Noun + ituLevel 1That After the Noun

Learn This First

To understand 'itu' after a noun, you should be familiar with how Indonesian handles definiteness and the basic placement of demonstratives following the noun they modify.

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