Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Saya akan berjalan ke selatan jika angin barat terlalu kencang. - I will walk south if the west wind is too strong.

Akan is a future tense marker in Indonesian. It doesn’t carry its own meaning like “will” in English, but shows that the action (here, berjalan) happens in the future. You could omit it in casual speech if context makes the future clear, but using akan is the standard way to express “I will walk….”

Why is berjalan used instead of just jalan?

In Indonesian, ber- is a common verb prefix for intransitive actions, so berjalan means “to walk.” The word jalan alone is primarily a noun (“road,” “street”), though colloquially you might hear jalan as “walk” (especially in commands like “Jalan!”). For a clear, neutral statement, use berjalan.

Why do we say ke selatan instead of just selatan?

Ke is the preposition meaning “to” or “toward.” When indicating movement or direction (e.g. south), you attach ke to the cardinal point: ke selatan = “to the south.” Without ke, selatan by itself would just name the direction, not indicate motion toward it.

Why is it angin barat and not barat angin?

Indonesian generally places the noun first, then any descriptive word (including cardinal-direction adjectives). Here angin (wind) is the noun, and barat (west) describes which wind. So angin barat = “west wind.” Reversing them would sound unnatural.

What does jika mean, and can I use kalau instead?

Jika and kalau both mean “if.” Jika is slightly more formal or written, while kalau is more colloquial. In this sentence either works:
• Formal/written: Saya akan berjalan ke selatan jika angin barat terlalu kencang.
• Informal/spoken: Saya akan berjalan ke selatan kalau angin barat terlalu kencang.

What does terlalu kencang mean, and could I say sangat kencang instead?

Terlalu means “too” (excessively), so terlalu kencang = “too strong” (referring to wind speed). Sangat kencang means “very strong,” which is slightly different: sangat intensifies without implying excess. If the wind is merely “very strong,” use sangat, but if it’s uncomfortably or dangerously strong, terlalu is more appropriate.

Do I need a word like maka after jika, and can I swap the clause order?

You don’t have to add maka (“then”) after jika. Indonesian allows “if-then” statements without an explicit “then.” You can also swap the clauses without changing the meaning:

Original: Saya akan berjalan ke selatan jika angin barat terlalu kencang.
Swapped: Jika angin barat terlalu kencang, saya akan berjalan ke selatan.

Why isn’t there a yang before terlalu kencang, like “angin barat yang terlalu kencang”?

In subordinate clauses introduced by jika/kalau, you directly connect the subject and predicate: jika angin barat terlalu kencang… Adding yang would turn it into a relative clause (“the west wind that is too strong”), which would require restructuring:

Jika angin barat yang terlalu kencang bertiup… (Here yang is fine, but notice you need a full verb afterward: bertiup.)
For our simple “if… then…” condition, just use jika angin barat terlalu kencang.