Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Pantai di depan hotel memiliki pasir putih dan ombak tenang. - The beach in front of the hotel has white sand and calm waves.

Indonesian doesn’t use definite or indefinite articles (no “the” or “a”). You simply say pantai for “beach.” Context or additional words (like demonstratives) clarify which beach you mean.

What does di depan hotel mean, and how is di used here?

di is a preposition indicating location (“at,” “in,” or “on”). Paired with depan (“front”), di depan means “in front of.” So di depan hotel = “in front of the hotel.”

Can I say pantai depan hotel instead of pantai di depan hotel?

No. You need di because depan is a noun meaning “front.” You form the locative phrase as di depan hotel. Without di, it would sound ungrammatical (as if depan hotel were a compound noun).

Why is memiliki used here instead of ada?

memiliki means “to have” or “has” (possession). It describes a feature of the beach. ada would mean “there is/are,” shifting focus to existence:
• Pantai di depan hotel memiliki pasir putih… = “The beach has white sand…”
• Di pantai itu ada pasir putih… = “At that beach, there is white sand…”

Could I use mempunyai instead of memiliki?

Yes. mempunyai is a synonym of memiliki and also means “to have.”
Example: Pantai di depan hotel mempunyai pasir putih dan ombak tenang.

Why is the order pasir putih (sand white) instead of “white sand”?

In Indonesian, adjectives follow the noun they describe. So pasir (sand) comes first, then putih (white).

Why doesn’t pasir or ombak have a plural marker?

Indonesian usually doesn’t mark plurals. A noun can be singular or plural based on context. If you want to emphasize many, you can reduplicate (e.g., ombak-ombak), but it’s often unnecessary.

What does ombak tenang mean and why is there no linking word?

ombak = “waves,” tenang = “calm.” Adjectives simply follow nouns without a linking verb or particle. ombak tenang = “calm waves.”

How would I use yang to make Pantai di depan hotel into a relative clause?

You can insert yang (“which/that”) before the location phrase:
Pantai yang di depan hotel memiliki pasir putih dan ombak tenang.
This is more formal; in casual speech, many speakers omit yang.

Can I list features without dan, like in English with commas?

Yes, you can separate items with commas and use dan only before the last item. For example:
Pantai di depan hotel memiliki pasir putih, ombak tenang, dan air jernih.