Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Lapak kecil itu ramai setiap sore. - That small stall is crowded every afternoon.

Lapak is a noun meaning “stall,” “booth,” or “stand,” especially one that’s small and informal. You’ll often hear it at markets, street food areas, or roadside vendors.

Why is the adjective kecil placed after the noun instead of before it, as in English?

In Indonesian, adjectives usually follow the noun they describe. So you say lapak kecil (stall small) instead of “small stall.” The general pattern is:
• Noun + Adjective

That makes lapak kecil literally “stall small,” which we translate as “small stall.”

What function does itu serve in lapak kecil itu?

Itu is a demonstrative pronoun meaning “that.” It points out a specific stall. Placed after the noun phrase, lapak kecil itu = “that small stall.” In less pointed contexts you can omit itu, turning it into “the small stall.”

Why is there no verb “to be” (is/are) in the sentence?

Modern Indonesian does not require a copula in equational or descriptive sentences. You simply put the subject and then the predicate:
• Subject (lapak kecil itu) + Predicate (ramai) + Time expression (setiap sore)
This directly translates to “That small stall busy every afternoon.” Adding “is” is unnecessary and would sound awkward.

What part of speech is ramai, and what does it mean here?

Ramai is an adjective meaning “crowded,” “bustling,” or “busy” (in the sense of having lots of people). Here it describes the stall’s condition—there are many visitors. It functions as a predicate adjective.

What does setiap mean, and can I use tiap instead?

Setiap means “every” or “each.” Yes, you can often replace it with tiap without changing the meaning:
• setiap sore = every afternoon
• tiap sore = every afternoon
Both are common; setiap is slightly more formal, tiap more colloquial.

What time of day does sore refer to?

In Indonesian, sore covers the late afternoon period, roughly from about 3 PM until sunset (around 6 PM). It’s later than siang (noon) and earlier than malam (night).

Could I rephrase setiap sore as pada sore hari? Is there any nuance?

Yes. Pada sore hari also means “in the afternoon” or “every afternoon,” but it feels a bit more formal or poetic. You could say:
• “Lapak kecil itu ramai pada sore hari.”
In everyday speech, setiap sore is shorter and more common.

How would you express “small stalls” in the plural?

Indonesian often forms plurals by reduplication. So “small stalls” becomes lapak-lapak kecil. If you still want the demonstrative “those small stalls,” you add itu:
• lapak-lapak kecil itu = those small stalls.

What’s the difference between ramai and sibuk, and why use ramai here?

• Ramai describes a place being crowded or bustling with people.
• Sibuk describes a person (or their schedule) being busy or occupied.
You’d say kantor itu sibuk to mean “that office is busy (with work),” but lapak itu ramai means “that stall is crowded (with customers).” They’re related ideas but apply to different subjects.