Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Saya minum teh biasa setiap pagi.

Indonesian doesn’t use articles. Nouns stand alone, and context determines definiteness or indefiniteness. So teh biasa can mean “(a) regular tea” or “the regular tea,” depending on context.

What does biasa do in teh biasa?

biasa means “ordinary” or “regular.” When you say teh biasa, you’re specifying you want plain tea, i.e. the standard version of tea (often with sugar but without extra flavorings).

Can I say aku instead of saya? What’s the difference?

Yes, you can. Saya is the formal or polite first-person pronoun (“I”). Aku is informal or intimate, used among close friends or family. Use saya in professional or polite contexts, aku in casual ones.

Why isn’t minum conjugated for tense, like “drank” or “drinking”?

Indonesian verbs don’t change form for tense. You express time through context or time words. Here, setiap pagi (“every morning”) tells us it’s a habitual present action.

What is the function of setiap in setiap pagi?

Setiap means “every.” So setiap pagi translates to “every morning.” An informal alternative is tiap pagi, with the same meaning.

Could you reorder the sentence, e.g. Setiap pagi saya minum teh biasa?

Absolutely. Indonesian word order is flexible. Placing setiap pagi at the front emphasizes the time: “Every morning, I drink regular tea.”

Is teh countable or uncountable? How do I say “a cup of tea”?

Teh is uncountable by itself. To specify quantity you use a classifier: for example, segelas teh biasa means “a glass (cup) of regular tea.”

What’s the difference between teh biasa and teh tawar?

Teh tawar literally means “bland tea” (no sugar). Teh biasa usually implies the normal preparation, which in Indonesian cafés often includes sugar but no milk or special flavors.