Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Pertandingan tenis dimulai pukul dua siang. - The tennis match starts at two in the afternoon.

Pertandingan tenis literally means “tennis match.” Here pertandingan is a noun meaning “match” or “competition,” and it combines with tenis (“tennis”) to specify which kind of match. You can swap tenis for another sport: e.g. pertandingan sepak bola (“football match”).

Why is dimulai in passive voice? Could I also say mulai instead?

Both mulai and dimulai come from the same root “to start.”

Pertandingan tenis dimulai uses the passive form (with prefix di-) to focus on the fact that the match “is started” at a certain time.
You can absolutely say Pertandingan tenis mulai pukul dua siang (active) and it will still mean “The tennis match starts at 2 PM.” The difference is mostly stylistic and emphasis.

Why do we use pukul before the time? Is it necessary?

Pukul functions like “o’clock” or “at” in time expressions. It’s standard in formal or neutral contexts:

pukul dua (“at two o’clock”)
pukul delapan malam (“at eight in the evening”)
In casual speech you might hear jam dua, but pukul is more universal and often preferred when giving schedules.

What role does siang play in pukul dua siang? Can I drop it?

Siang specifies the daytime period (late morning to early afternoon). So pukul dua siang is unambiguously 2 PM. If you just say pukul dua, it could be 2 AM or 2 PM depending on context. Learners often add pagi/siang/sore/malam to clarify.

Is it possible to put the time expression at the beginning of the sentence?

Yes. Indonesian word order is flexible with time markers. You could say:

Pukul dua siang pertandingan tenis dimulai.
That version highlights the time. The neutral order is Subject–Verb–Time: Pertandingan tenis dimulai pukul dua siang.

Why aren’t there any articles like “the” or “a/an” before pertandingan tenis?

Indonesian doesn’t use definite or indefinite articles. Pertandingan tenis can mean “a tennis match” or “the tennis match” based on context. If you need to be explicit, you can add words like sebuah (“a”) or itu (“that/the”).

What’s the difference between siang and sore when telling the time of day?

Time-of-day divisions in colloquial Indonesian are approximate:

pagi: dawn until around 10 AM
siang: late morning until about 3 PM
sore: late afternoon (around 3 PM to dusk)
malam: evening and night (after dusk)
So you’d use pukul tiga sore for 3 PM and pukul dua siang for 2 PM.

Why is tenis spelled with only one “n” instead of “tennis”?

When Indonesian borrows words, it typically simplifies doubled letters. English tennis becomes tenis. This pattern applies to many loanwords (e.g. filosofi from “philosophy,” komedi from “comedy,” etc.).