Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Teman perempuan saya membuat akun untuk komunitas belajar itu. - My female friend creates an account for that study community.

It literally means “my female friend.” If you want to clearly say “my girlfriend,” use pacar saya (neutral) or kekasih saya (formal/romantic). In casual speech you may hear cewek saya for “my girlfriend,” but teman perempuan saya normally does not imply a romantic relationship unless the context makes it clear.

Is perempuan the best word here? What about wanita, cewek, or gadis?

perempuan: neutral, widely used in everyday and formal contexts.
wanita: formal/official tone (e.g., organizations, signage). Teman wanita is understandable but a bit formal.
cewek: slang/informal (“girl; female”).
gadis: “maiden/young unmarried woman,” literary/formal. For “female friend,” teman perempuan is the safest neutral choice in most situations.

Why is the possessor saya placed after the noun phrase (teman perempuan), not before?

Indonesian puts the possessor after the noun: teman saya = “my friend.” With a modifier, it stays after the whole noun phrase: teman perempuan saya. You can also attach a clitic:

teman perempuanku (“my female friend,” informal) Another clear option is temanku yang perempuan (“my friend who is female”).

Could I say teman saya perempuan instead?

Teman saya perempuan can function as a complete clause meaning “My friend is female.” As a noun phrase before a verb, it’s awkward.
For a noun phrase meaning “my female friend,” stick with teman perempuan saya (or temanku yang perempuan).

Why is the modifier after the noun (teman perempuan) and not before (like English “female friend”)?

In Indonesian, modifiers typically follow the head noun. So:

teman perempuan = “female friend”
komunitas belajar = “learning/study community” Putting the modifier first (e.g., perempuan teman) doesn’t work for this meaning.

What’s the difference between membuat akun and mendaftar?

membuat akun = “to create an account.” This is the natural way to say someone created a new login/account.
mendaftar = “to register (oneself).” You register for/to something: mendaftar ke komunitas itu. You don’t normally say mendaftar akun.
mendaftarkan (causative) = “to register (someone/something).” e.g., Dia mendaftarkan temannya ke komunitas itu.

When would I use membuatkan instead of membuat?

membuatkan adds a benefactive sense “make (something) for (someone).” Use it when the account is for the benefit of someone/something else:

Dia membuatkan akun untuk komunitas belajar itu. = “She created an account for that learning community (on its behalf).”

What does untuk mean here, and could I use buat, bagi, or kepada?

untuk = “for (the purpose/benefit of)” and is neutral.
buat = colloquial “for” (common in speech): buat komunitas belajar itu.
bagi = more formal/literary “for (as for)”: bagi komunitas belajar itu.
kepada = “to (a person/recipient),” not used with things like communities in this sense. Your sentence with untuk is natural and neutral.

Does itu mean “that” or “the” in komunitas belajar itu?

It can function like “that” or as a marker of definiteness (“that/the specific one already known in context”). Use ini for “this,” and tersebut (more formal) for “the aforementioned.” So komunitas belajar itu = “that/the (aforementioned) learning community.”

Where does itu go in the noun phrase?

Within a noun phrase, itu comes at the end:

komunitas belajar itu (correct) Starting a clause with Itu changes it to “That is …”: Itu komunitas belajar.

What exactly is komunitas belajar? Why is belajar (a verb) used this way?

Indonesian often uses a verb or noun after a noun to modify it. komunitas belajar literally “community (for) learning,” i.e., a learning/study community. Other possibilities:

komunitas pembelajar = “community of learners” (focus on the people)
komunitas pembelajaran = “community for learning/education” (more institutional)

How do I show past, present, or future here?

Indonesian doesn’t mark tense on the verb. Add time/aspect words:

Past/completed: sudah/tadi — Teman perempuan saya sudah membuat akun…
Ongoing: sedang — Teman perempuan saya sedang membuat akun…
Future/intention: akan/mau — Teman perempuan saya akan/mau membuat akun…

How do I make it plural: “My female friends made …”?

Use reduplication for plurality on the noun:

teman-teman perempuan saya membuat akun… You can also add a number: dua teman perempuan saya… (no plural marking needed when a number is present).

Can I use di instead of untuk, like membuat akun di komunitas belajar itu?

di = “at/on/in,” focusing on location/platform: membuat akun di komunitas belajar itu suggests “create an account on/within that community (platform).”
untuk emphasizes purpose/for whom: membuat akun untuk komunitas belajar itu can mean creating an account for that community (e.g., making the community’s official account). Context decides the reading.

How do I say clearly that she created the community’s official account (e.g., on Instagram)?

Use one of:

Dia membuat akun komunitas belajar itu (di Instagram).
Dia membuatkan akun Instagram untuk komunitas belajar itu. Both make it clear the account belongs to the community.

Is akun the right word? How is it different from rekening?

Yes. akun = account (login/profile) for websites, apps, social media. rekening = bank account or billing account. Don’t use rekening for online profiles.

Can I front the purpose phrase for emphasis?

Yes. Indonesian allows fronting for emphasis:

Untuk komunitas belajar itu, teman perempuan saya membuat akun. This stresses the purpose/beneficiary.

Is it OK to drop the prefix and say Teman perempuan saya buat akun … or use bikin?

In casual speech, yes:

Teman perempuan saya buat/bikin akun… (informal) Standard/neutral writing prefers membuat. bikin is colloquial for “make.”

Is teman wanita saya acceptable?

It’s understandable and not wrong, but it sounds more formal or slightly stiff. teman perempuan saya is the more natural neutral phrasing in most contexts.