Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Cabai itu sangat pedas, jadi saya segera minum air. - That chili is very spicy, so I immediately drink water.

Itu is a demonstrative meaning that or functioning like the (definite reference). When it follows a noun, it picks out a specific, known item: cabai itu = “that/the chili (previously mentioned).” If you say itu cabai, it’s more like pointing/identifying: “that is a chili.”

Is cabai singular or plural in this sentence?

Indonesian doesn’t mark plural by default. Cabai can be singular or plural depending on context. To make plural explicit, you can use:

a number: dua cabai
a quantifier: banyak cabai
reduplication (more formal/written): cabai-cabai

Cabai itu could be “that chili” or “those chilies,” depending on context.

Is cabe also correct, or must it be cabai?

Both are understood. Cabai is the standard dictionary/spelling form; cabe is very common in everyday speech and informal writing. You’ll hear cabe rawit (bird’s eye chili) all the time.

How do you pronounce air here? It looks like English “air.”

It’s a false friend. Air means “water” and is pronounced in two syllables: “ah-eer.” Rough guide for the whole sentence:

cabai: “cha-bye”
itu: “ee-too”
sangat: “sah-ngat” (ng as in “sing”)
pedas: “peh-das”
jadi: “jah-dee”
saya: “sah-yah”
segera: “suh-guh-rah”
minum: “mee-noom”
air: “ah-eer”

Why use sangat pedas instead of pedas sekali?

Both mean very spicy.

sangat pedas: “very spicy” (slightly more formal/neutral).
pedas sekali: equally natural, common in speech and writing. Colloquial options: pedas banget (Jakarta/Malay influence), pedes banget (very colloquial).

What does jadi do here, and is the comma before it required?

Jadi is a coordinating conjunction meaning so / therefore introducing a result. A comma before it is standard because it separates two clauses: ..., jadi .... In casual texting people sometimes drop the comma; in careful writing, keep it.

Can I start a sentence with Jadi?

Yes. As a discourse marker: Jadi, saya segera minum air. = “So, I immediately drank water.” It’s common in speech to sum up or transition to a conclusion.

What’s the nuance difference between segera and langsung?

segera = soon/at once (a bit formal or written). It emphasizes promptness.
langsung = right away / immediately, without detour (very common in everyday speech). In conversation, jadi saya langsung minum air often sounds more natural than segera.

Where can I place segera in the clause?

Most natural:

Saya segera minum air.
Jadi, saya segera minum air. Also possible (more formal/emphatic): Segera, saya minum air. Avoid placing it after the object: Saya minum air segera sounds odd.

Why minum and not meminum?

Minum (base verb) is the most common, perfectly fine with or without an object: minum / minum air. Meminum is a meN- derived form, more formal/literary, and explicitly transitive. In everyday Indonesian, stick with minum.

Do I need to say air? Can I just say minum?

You can say minum without an object: Jadi saya segera minum = “So I immediately drank (something).” If you want to specify it was water, keep air. Very common collocations:

minum air (drink water)
minum air putih (drink plain water)
minum air mineral (drink bottled/mineral water)

What does air putih mean? Is it “white water”?

Literally “white/clear water,” but idiomatically it means plain drinking water (not tea/coffee/juice). Air mineral is bottled/mineral water.

Why use saya here? Could I use aku or gue?

All mean I, but registers differ:

saya: polite/neutral, safe in most contexts.
aku: informal/intimate with friends/family.
gue/gua: very colloquial Jakarta slang. Choose based on formality and who you’re talking to: Jadi aku langsung minum air works with friends; Jadi saya segera minum air is neutral/polite.

Does this sentence mean past, present, or future? There’s no tense marking.

Indonesian has no obligatory tense. Context decides. To be explicit:

Past/recent: tadi/barusan (earlier/just now), sudah (already)
- Cabai itu sangat pedas, jadi saya tadi langsung minum air.
Future: nanti (later), akan (will)
- Cabai itu sangat pedas, jadi saya nanti akan minum air.

Why isn’t the adjective placed after the noun, like cabai pedas?

Indonesian uses adjectives after nouns for attributive phrases: cabai pedas = “spicy chili.” But your sentence is a full clause where the adjective phrase is the predicate: Cabai itu (subject) sangat pedas (predicate) = “That chili is very spicy.” Both patterns are correct but serve different grammar functions.

Can I use -nya for definiteness, like Cabainya sangat pedas?

Yes. Cabainya sangat pedas also means “The chili is very spicy,” with -nya marking definiteness or topicality. It’s common in speech; cabai itu is a bit more neutral/formal. Another colloquial intensifier is Pedasnya! (“So spicy!”) as an exclamation.

How would I express the cause with karena (“because”)? Is Karena … jadi … okay?

Use either cause or result, not both in formal style:

Cause-first: Karena cabai itu sangat pedas, saya segera/langsung minum air.
Result-only: Cabai itu sangat pedas, jadi saya segera/langsung minum air. Colloquially, some people do say Karena …, jadi …, but it’s considered redundant in careful writing.

Do I need a classifier with cabai if I mean one chili?

Not required. You can say:

satu cabai (one chili)
sebiji cabai or satu buah cabai (using classifiers; both are acceptable) Everyday speech often uses just the numeral: satu cabai, dua cabai.