Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Saya menunggu terlalu lama di stasiun.

Saya is the neutral/formal pronoun for “I” in Indonesian. It’s commonly used in polite speech, with strangers, elders, or in writing. You can also say aku in casual situations (with friends or family). In many cases, you can even omit the subject pronoun entirely if the context makes it clear who’s doing the action.

What does menunggu mean, and how is it formed?

menunggu means “to wait.” It’s formed by adding the active prefix meN- to the root tunggu. Although technically transitive (it can take a direct object like menunggu kereta “to wait for the train”), it’s perfectly fine to use it without a specified object when the meaning is obvious.

What do terlalu and lama mean, and why are they used together?

terlalu is an adverb meaning “too” or “excessively,” and lama means “long” (as in duration). Combined as terlalu lama, they correspond exactly to the English “too long.” The structure is terlalu + adjective/adverb, just like English “too” + adjective.

Why is terlalu lama placed between menunggu and di stasiun? Can I change the word order?

In Indonesian, adverbial phrases that modify the verb (time, manner, degree) typically follow the verb directly, so menunggu terlalu lama sounds natural.
You could re-order for emphasis:
• Saya menunggu di stasiun terlalu lama. – grammatically correct but slightly less fluid.
• Di stasiun, saya menunggu terlalu lama. – fronting the location (“At the station…”) shifts the focus onto the place.

How is past tense expressed here? Why isn’t there a past-tense marker?

Indonesian verbs don’t change form for tense. Time is inferred from context or clarified with time words like sudah (already), kemarin (yesterday), etc.
• Without a marker: Saya menunggu terlalu lama can mean “I waited too long.”
• With sudah: Saya sudah menunggu terlalu lama emphasizes “I have already waited too long.”

What does di mean in di stasiun, and how do I know it’s a preposition, not a verb prefix?

Here, di is the preposition “at” or “in,” marking location. You can tell because there’s a space before stasiun. In contrast, verb-prefix di- (for passive voice) attaches directly to the verb root (e.g., ditulis “is written”) with no space.

Why is there no equivalent of “the” or “a” before stasiun?

Indonesian has no articles. Nouns stand alone, and context determines definiteness. If you need to specify “this station” or “that station,” you add a demonstrative:
• stasiun ini – “this station”
• stasiun itu – “that station”

Do I always need to include Saya? Can I start the sentence differently?

You don’t have to. In informal writing or speech, dropping the subject is common:
• Menunggu terlalu lama di stasiun.
You can also front the location for stylistic effect:
• Di stasiun, saya menunggu terlalu lama.
All versions convey roughly the same meaning, with slight shifts in emphasis.