Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kakak perempuan saya suka minum teh hangat di sore hari. - My older sister likes to drink warm tea in the afternoon.

Kakak means “older sibling” without specifying gender. Adding perempuan specifies it’s female, so kakak perempuan = “older sister.” For “older brother,” say kakak laki-laki. For younger siblings, use adik, with adik perempuan and adik laki-laki if you need to specify gender.

Why is the possessive pronoun after the noun in kakak perempuan saya?

In Indonesian, the possessor typically follows the noun: buku saya (my book), rumah saya (my house), kakak perempuan saya (my older sister). You can also attach a possessive suffix to the noun: kakak perempuanku (my older sister). Both are correct.

Can I just say kakakku instead? How do I keep the female meaning?

Kakakku means “my older sibling” (gender not specified). To keep the female meaning, say kakak perempuanku. Avoid kakakku perempuan; more natural is kakakku yang perempuan if you really need that structure.

Is saya formal? Could I use aku here?

Saya is neutral/formal and safe in most situations. Aku is more intimate/informal. With aku, the most natural possessive is the suffix: kakak perempuanku. While kakak perempuan aku is understandable, kakak perempuanku sounds smoother.

Does suka work with verbs like this? What’s the difference between suka minum and suka teh?

Yes. Suka + verb is common: suka minum = “like to drink.” Suka + noun focuses on liking the thing itself: suka teh = “like tea.” Both are fine; suka minum teh emphasizes the activity of drinking tea.

Could suka mean “often” here?

Not in this sentence. Here suka means “likes to.” In some colloquial speech, suka can mean “often,” but to avoid ambiguity use sering for “often”: sering minum teh hangat.

What’s the nuance difference between suka, senang, gemar, and doyan?

Suka: most common, neutral “like.”
Senang: “enjoy/pleased (to),” slightly more emotive; senang minum teh works.
Gemar: “fond of,” a bit formal/literary; gemar minum teh.
Doyan: colloquial/informal; doyan teh = like/love to eat/drink something.

Why is it teh hangat and not hangat teh?

Adjectives generally come after nouns in Indonesian. So teh hangat (warm tea), kota besar (big city). With multiple adjectives, they still follow the noun: teh manis hangat (sweet warm tea). You can add yang for clarity/emphasis: teh yang hangat.

What’s the difference between hangat and panas?

Hangat = warm (comfortably hot). Panas = hot (very hot). So teh hangat is warm tea; teh panas is hot tea (freshly boiled). For cold tea, you’ll see es teh (iced tea).

Is di in di sore hari correct for time? Should it be pada?

Both are used. Many speakers say di sore hari in everyday Indonesian. Some style guides prefer pada for time expressions (pada sore hari) and reserve di for places, but di with times of day is common and acceptable in real usage. In casual speech, you can even drop the preposition: sore hari.

Do I need hari in sore hari?

No. Sore alone is fine and very common: … minum teh hangat sore. Sore hari is a bit more explicit/emphatic or formal, but both mean “(in) the afternoon/evening (before night).”

Roughly what time does sore cover?

Typically from late afternoon to around sunset—roughly 3–6/7 pm, depending on context and region.

Where can I place the time phrase? Can it go first?

Yes. Indonesian is flexible with time adverbials:

Kakak perempuan saya suka minum teh hangat di sore hari.
Di sore hari, kakak perempuan saya suka minum teh hangat. Both are natural (use a comma when fronted).

If I mean “every afternoon,” how do I say that?

Use a frequency word:

setiap sore / tiap sore = every afternoon
biasanya = usually Examples: Kakak perempuan saya biasanya minum teh hangat sore. / Kakak perempuan saya minum teh hangat setiap sore.

Do I need a measure word for teh? How would I say “a cup of warm tea”?

You don’t need one, but you can add it:

secangkir teh hangat = a cup/mug of warm tea
segelas teh hangat = a glass of warm tea So: … suka minum secangkir teh hangat di sore hari.

Is kakak perempuan the only way to say “older sister”? What about kak or mbak?

For description, kakak perempuan is standard. As a form of address, people often use Kak or Mbak (regionally common, especially in Java). In a sentence like this, keep kakak perempuan. Very informal speech may use kakak cewek, but it’s colloquial and not for formal contexts.

Can I drop perempuan and just say kakak saya?

Yes, if the gender is clear from context. Kakak saya means “my older sibling” and is gender-neutral. If you need to be explicit, keep perempuan (or use kakak laki-laki for a brother).

Could I replace the whole subject with dia after it’s been mentioned once?

Yes. After introducing kakak perempuan saya, you can refer back with dia: Dia suka minum teh hangat di sore hari. In formal writing, ia is also used, but dia is more common in speech.

Is there any difference between pada sore hari, di sore hari, and just sore in tone?

Pada sore hari: more formal/written.
Di sore hari: neutral and common in everyday use.
Sore (hari): concise and very common in speech. All are acceptable; choose based on formality.