adalah

Adalah is a word in the Indonesian language that functions as a copular verb, linking a subject with its predicate. It is commonly translated as “is” or “are” in English, but its use is more restricted to certain syntactic and semantic functions, such as definition, identification, or clarification. In definitional or classificatory statements, adalah marks the equality or identity between two noun phrases, for example: Bumi adalah planet ketiga dari Matahari.

In terms of grammar, adalah does not inflect for person or number and does not carry tense. Its main role is to connect the subject to a predicative complement. In formal or written Indonesian, is used to make precise statements about what something is. In everyday speech, speakers often omit the word, producing sentences such as Saya guru rather than Saya adalah guru, though the meaning remains clear through context.

Usage notes and context:

- Use adalah in explicit definitions, explanations, and formal descriptions.

- It appears frequently in encyclopedic, academic, legal, or educational writing to establish a term or concept.

- In colloquial Indonesian, the copula is frequently dropped; its presence can add formality or emphasis.

- While closely related terms exist in the broader Malay world, such as synonyms or alternatives used in various registers, the core function of adalah as a copula remains consistent.

Examples illustrate its function: Bumi adalah planet ketiga dari matahari. Air adalah H2O. Orang itu adalah Rudi. These sentences demonstrate how adalah ties a subject to a definitional or identificatory predicate.