Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Mereka minum teh panas di malam hari.

In Indonesian, di is commonly used as a preposition to indicate location or time. When used before malam hari, it translates roughly to at night, making the phrase di malam hari mean at night.

What is the difference between malam and malam hari?

Malam can simply mean night, while malam hari adds emphasis to the nighttime portion of the day. In everyday usage, both are often interchangeable, but malam hari can sound a bit more complete or formal.

Can the sentence be written without panas—just Mereka minum teh di malam hari?

Yes, that would still make sense: Mereka minum teh di malam hari means They drink tea at night. However, including panas clarifies that the tea is hot.

Is mereka the only Indonesian word for they, or are there other ways to say it?

Mereka is the standard Indonesian word for they. In casual speech, sometimes people might omit the pronoun entirely if the context is clear, but mereka is the most common and straightforward option.

Do I need to change the verb minum in any way, depending on who is drinking or when they drink?

No, Indonesian verbs like minum don’t change forms based on subject or tense. Instead, context or additional words (time markers) clarify when an action takes place. So minum stays the same regardless of who’s drinking or when they drink.