Mari kita bicara sambil minum kopi.

Let’s talk while drinking coffee.

Breakdown of Mari kita bicara sambil minum kopi.

• minum: to drink
• kopi: the coffee
• bicara: to talk
• sambil: while
• kita: we
• mari: let’s

Questions & Answers about Mari kita bicara sambil minum kopi.

What does Mari mean in this sentence, and how is it used?

Mari is an invitation marker equivalent to “let’s” in English. It’s a polite imperative form used to encourage or invite people to do something together (e.g., Mari kita makan = “Let’s eat”).

Why is kita used here, and how is it different from kami?

Kita is the inclusive “we,” meaning the speaker and the listener(s) are both included. Kami is exclusive “we,” meaning the speaker and others, but not the person being spoken to. So Mari kita bicara invites you and me, whereas Mari kami bicara would awkwardly exclude you.

Why is the verb bicara used without the prefix ber-? Could I say berbicara instead?

In colloquial Indonesian, many root words (like bicara) can stand alone as verbs. berbicara is also correct and more formal, but dropping ber- is common in everyday speech. Both mean “to talk/speak.”

How does sambil work in this sentence?

Sambil means “while” and introduces a simultaneous action. It connects two activities happening at the same time: bicara (talking) and minum kopi (drinking coffee).

Why isn’t there an article before kopi? How would I say “the coffee” or “some coffee”?

Indonesian doesn’t use articles like “the” or “a.” You simply say kopi for “coffee” in general. If you want to specify, you can add quantifiers: secangkir kopi (a cup of coffee), kopi itu (that coffee), or beberapa kopi (some coffee).

Can I replace Mari with Ayo? Are they interchangeable?

Yes. Ayo and Mari both mean “let’s.” Ayo is slightly more casual and very common in spoken Indonesian; Mari can feel a bit more formal or literary.

Instead of minum kopi, can I say ngopi?

Absolutely. Ngopi is informal slang derived from minum kopi and means “to have/ drink coffee.” So you could say Mari kita bicara sambil ngopi with the same meaning but a more relaxed tone.

Is it okay to switch the clauses and say Sambil minum kopi, mari kita bicara?

Yes. You can front the sambil phrase without changing the meaning: Sambil minum kopi, mari kita bicara still means “Let’s talk while drinking coffee.” It may sound slightly more formal depending on the context.