Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Angin pagi masuk lewat jendela kamar saya. - The morning wind enters through my bedroom window.

Indonesian does not have definite (the) or indefinite (a/an) articles. Context alone tells you whether something is specific or general. So both angin pagi and jendela kamar saya appear without any extra words for “the” or “a.”

How do you form modifiers for nouns, as in angin pagi and jendela kamar saya?

Indonesian uses a head-modifier order:

The first noun is the main thing (head).
The second noun describes or limits it (modifier).
Example:
• angin (wind) + pagi (morning) → angin pagi = “morning wind/breeze.”
• jendela (window) + kamar (room) + saya (my) → jendela kamar saya = “my bedroom window.”

Why is the possessor saya placed after the noun in kamar saya? Are there alternative forms?

In Indonesian, possessive pronouns come after the noun they modify. kamar saya = “my room.”
Alternative: attach the informal suffix -ku directly to the noun: kamarku (also “my room,” more casual).

What’s the difference between kamar saya and kamarku?

• kamar saya – neutral or formal (“my room”).
• kamarku – informal (“my room”), used in casual speech or writing.

What part of speech is pagi in angin pagi, and could I say di pagi hari instead?

Here pagi is a noun acting like an adjective (“morning”).
Yes, you can also say angin di pagi hari or angin pada pagi hari to mean “the wind in the morning,” but angin pagi is more concise and common.

Why is there no preposition ke before masuk, and when would you use masuk ke dalam?

masuk already means “enter (into).” Adding ke dalam (“into inside”) is redundant unless you want extra emphasis on going in:
• Angin pagi masuk lewat jendela… – perfectly natural.
• Angin pagi masuk ke dalam lewat jendela… – also correct, slightly more emphatic.

What is the function of lewat in this sentence, and can I use melalui instead?

lewat means “through” or “via,” marking the path.
You can swap in melalui for a more formal tone:
• masuk lewat jendela… (common, conversational)
• masuk melalui jendela… (more formal or written)

Is the word order flexible in Indonesian? Could I say lewat jendela kamar saya angin pagi masuk?

While Indonesian allows some flexibility, the neutral order is Subject–Verb–(Object)–Adverbial:
Angin pagi (S) | masuk (V) | lewat jendela kamar saya (Adv).
Putting the adverbial first or rearranging too much can sound poetic or confusing. A more acceptable variant is:
Pagi-pagi angin masuk lewat jendela kamar saya.

Why is angin pagi sometimes translated as “morning breeze” rather than “morning wind”?

Although angin literally means “wind,” in everyday speech angin pagi implies a gentle, cool breeze you feel in the morning. Translating it as “morning breeze” better captures that nuance.