Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Dia kehabisan waktu karena menunggu kembalian terlalu lama. - He/She ran out of time because he/she waited for the change too long.

No. Dia is gender-neutral and means either he or she. For formal writing you might see ia (usually as a subject), and for respectful reference to elders or important people, beliau is used.

What does kehabisan waktu literally mean, and how is it formed?

Literally, it’s “to run out of time.” It uses the circumfix ke- -an on the root habis (finished/used up): ke + habis + an → kehabisan, which often means “to run out of X” or “to be short of X.” Examples: kehabisan uang (run out of money), kehabisan bensin (run out of gas).

Is there a nuance to kehabisan?

Yes. Kehabisan often implies an unwanted or unintended shortage—something that happened to you or beyond your control. It’s similar in feel to English “ended up running out of…”

Can I say dia habis waktu instead?

That’s not idiomatic. Use dia kehabisan waktu or waktunya habis (his/her time is up). Another neutral option is dia tidak punya waktu (he/she doesn’t have time), which focuses on unavailability rather than “running out.”

What’s the difference among kehabisan waktu, waktunya habis, and tidak punya waktu?

Kehabisan waktu: ran out of time (often unintended).
Waktunya habis: the allotted time has ended (“time’s up”).
Tidak punya waktu: doesn’t have time (no availability).

How does terlalu lama compare to sangat lama or lama sekali?

Terlalu lama = too long (excessive/negative).
Sangat lama / lama sekali = very long (intense but not necessarily negative). Colloquially, you’ll also hear kelamaan (too long as a noun/reason), e.g., kelamaan nunggu.

Is the placement of terlalu lama at the end required? Could I move it?

Both are fine:

… karena menunggu kembalian terlalu lama.
… karena terlalu lama menunggu kembalian. The first keeps the duration after the object; the second foregrounds the “too long” duration. Meaning is the same; it’s a matter of emphasis/style.

Why is it menunggu and not mentunggu?

The verb root is tunggu. With the prefix meN-, initial t is dropped and the prefix surfaces as men-: meN- + tunggu → menunggu. This is a regular assimilation rule in Indonesian morphology.

Do I need a preposition like “for” in menunggu kembalian?

No. Menunggu directly takes its object: menunggu kembalian = “wait for (the) change.” Don’t say menunggu untuk kembalian here.

What exactly does kembalian mean? How is it different from kembali or pengembalian?

Kembali: return/back (verb/adverb).
Kembalian: the change you get back after paying.
Pengembalian: a return/refund (formal noun), e.g., pengembalian dana (refund).

When would I use kembaliannya or add uang as in uang kembalian?

Kembaliannya (with -nya) makes it definite/specific: “the change (that’s due).”
Uang kembalian explicitly says “change money,” useful for clarity. All are common: menunggu kembalian, menunggu kembaliannya, menunggu uang kembalian.

Can I repeat the subject after karena? For example, … karena dia menunggu…?

Yes. Both are correct:

… karena menunggu kembalian … (subject is understood from context)
… karena dia menunggu kembalian … (repeats the subject; a bit more explicit/formal)

How is past time understood here? There’s no past tense marker.

Indonesian doesn’t mark tense morphologically. Context tells you whether it’s past or present. You can add time/aspect markers if needed:

Dia sudah kehabisan waktu (already ran out of time)
Dia tadi kehabisan waktu (earlier ran out of time)

Is there a more casual way to say the whole sentence?

Yes. Colloquial Indonesian often shortens and uses informal connectors:

Dia kehabisan waktu gara-gara nunggu kembaliannya kelamaan. Features: gara-gara (informal “because of”), nunggu (colloquial for menunggu), kembaliannya (definite), kelamaan (too long).

Should I use waktu or jam for “time” here?

Use waktu for time as a resource/abstract concept. Jam refers to clock time or hours. So kehabisan waktu is correct; kehabisan jam is not.