Breakdown of Orang tua saya duduk di rumput di taman.
di
in
taman
the park
di
on
orang tua
the parent
duduk
to sit
saya
my
rumput
the grass
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Indonesian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Orang tua saya duduk di rumput di taman.
What does orang tua saya literally mean, and why is it used for “my parents”?
Literally, orang = person and tua = old, so orang tua = “old person(s).” However, in everyday Indonesian this phrase is the standard term for parents. Putting saya after the noun marks possession: orang tua saya = my parents.
How do I know orang tua is plural (parents) and not singular?
Indonesian nouns don’t change form for number. Orang tua can mean one parent or both; you infer plurality from context. If you need to specify a single parent, you’d say ayah saya (my father) or ibu saya (my mother).
Why are there two di in duduk di rumput di taman?
Each di introduces a locative phrase. The first (duduk di rumput) tells you where they sit (“on the grass”). The second (di taman) gives the broader setting (“in the park”). Indonesian requires di before every location noun.
Why isn’t there a word for “the” or “a” before rumput or taman?
Indonesian does not use articles like “the” or “a.” You simply say di + noun to indicate location; context makes it clear whether you mean a specific grass/park or grass/parks in general.
Is duduk a transitive verb? Why doesn’t it have an object here?
Duduk is intransitive, meaning “to sit.” It never takes a direct object. Instead, you attach locative phrases like di rumput and di taman to show where the sitting happens.
Can I start the sentence with di taman to emphasize the location?
Yes. You can say Di taman, orang tua saya duduk di rumput. This fronting emphasizes “In the park…” Indonesian is fairly flexible with word order when you want to highlight a particular element.
Is there a more casual way to say “my parents”?
Yes. You can use the possessive suffix -ku instead of saya: orang tuaku = “my parents” in an informal or familiar context.