Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Ibu menggoreng pisang dengan sedikit minyak.

ibu (lowercase) is the common noun “mother.”
Ibu (capitalized) can be:
- a respectful title for an adult woman (like “Ma’am/Ms.”), or
- “Mother/Mom,” sometimes capitalized in writing out of respect.
Without a possessor, Ibu can mean “(my) mother” if the context is family, or a specific woman addressed/talked about respectfully.
To make “my mother” explicit: Ibuku or Ibu saya. For “his/her mother”: Ibunya.
Note: Ibu is also used to address a woman directly (second person), but in this sentence it’s a third-person subject.

Does the sentence show present, past, or habitual? How is tense indicated in Indonesian?

Indonesian doesn’t mark tense on the verb. The sentence is time-neutral. You add time/aspect words if needed:

Ongoing: Ibu sedang menggoreng pisang.
Past/recent: Tadi/Baru saja Ibu menggoreng pisang.
Completed: Ibu sudah menggoreng pisang.
Habitual: Ibu sering/biasanya menggoreng pisang.
Future: Ibu akan menggoreng pisang nanti.

Why is it menggoreng and not just goreng?

goreng is the root “fry.”
meng- is the active transitive prefix (meN-) added to many verbs when they take a direct object. With a root beginning in g, meN- surfaces as meng-, giving menggoreng.
A few meN- patterns:
- menulis (from tulis “write”)
- memakai (from pakai “use”; the initial p is dropped)
- menyapu (from sapu “sweep”; s changes to sy/ny)
- mengajar (from ajar “teach”)

Can I say Ibu goreng pisang?

In standard Indonesian, you normally keep the meN- prefix with a transitive verb: Ibu menggoreng pisang.
You’ll hear Ibu goreng pisang in casual speech (especially colloquial Jakarta Indonesian), but learners should stick to the standard form.
Without meN-, goreng is fine in imperatives: Goreng pisang itu! (“Fry those bananas!”)

What does dengan do here? Could I use something else?

dengan means “with/using” and introduces the instrument/means: “with a little oil.”
Common alternatives:
- pakai (colloquial): Ibu menggoreng pisang pakai sedikit minyak.
- menggunakan (more formal): Ibu menggoreng pisang menggunakan sedikit minyak.
All are natural; dengan is neutral and widely used.

Why is dengan sedikit minyak placed after pisang? Can I move it?

Neutral order is Verb + Object + Prepositional Phrase: menggoreng
- pisang
  - dengan sedikit minyak.
You can front it for emphasis: Dengan sedikit minyak, Ibu menggoreng pisang.
Avoid splitting the verb and its object in a way that changes meaning. For example:
- Ibu menggoreng dengan sedikit minyak pisang is likely read as “fry with a little banana oil,” not “fry bananas with a little oil.”

Why is it sedikit minyak and not minyak sedikit?

sedikit is a quantifier and usually comes before the noun it quantifies: sedikit minyak (“a little oil”).
minyak sedikit can occur in some descriptive contexts (e.g., minyaknya sedikit = “the oil is little/in short supply”), but after a preposition of means it’s more natural to say dengan sedikit minyak.

Does pisang mean one banana or many here?

Number is usually unmarked in Indonesian. pisang can mean “banana” or “bananas” depending on context.

To specify one: satu pisang or sebuah pisang.
To specify several: beberapa pisang.
To make it definite (“the banana(s)”): add -nya → pisangnya.

Do I need a measure word for minyak (oil)? How would I say “one tablespoon,” etc.?

Not required—sedikit minyak is fine. To be precise, use measures:

satu sendok makan minyak (one tablespoon of oil)
satu sendok teh minyak (one teaspoon of oil)
setetes minyak (a drop of oil)
secukupnya means “as needed/to taste.”

Should it be minyak goreng instead of just minyak?

minyak = oil (general).
minyak goreng = cooking oil (the kind used for frying).
In a cooking context, both are understandable; minyak goreng is more specific. You can also name the oil: minyak zaitun (olive oil), minyak kelapa (coconut oil), etc.

Is this related to the dish pisang goreng?

Yes. pisang goreng (“fried banana(s)”) is the product/dish. Here, menggoreng pisang describes the action “to fry bananas.” Note how adjectives typically follow nouns in Indonesian:

pisang goreng = fried banana(s) (noun + adjective)
menggoreng pisang = to fry bananas (verb + object)

How do I say this in the passive voice?

Pisang digoreng (oleh) Ibu dengan sedikit minyak.
You can drop oleh if the agent is clear: Pisang digoreng Ibu dengan sedikit minyak.
Using -nya makes it definite: Pisangnya digoreng Ibu… (“The bananas are fried by Mom…”)

How can I emphasize that it’s only a little oil, or almost none?

Only a little: hanya sedikit minyak, sedikit saja minyak, cuma sedikit minyak (colloquial).
Very little: sangat sedikit minyak, sedikit sekali minyak.
Almost none/none: hampir tanpa minyak, tanpa minyak.

Any quick pronunciation tips for menggoreng and dengan?

menggoreng: say it roughly like “muhng-GO-reng.” The ng is the sound in English “sing.” The g is always hard (as in “go”).
dengan: the first e is a relaxed “uh” sound (schwa), roughly “DUH-ngan” (with a light, quick final “-an”). Indonesian r is typically a light tap.

Is menumis the same as menggoreng?

Not exactly. menggoreng is “to fry” (can be shallow- or deep-fry). menumis is “to sauté/stir-fry” with a small amount of oil, often for aromatics and vegetables. For bananas, menggoreng is the normal verb; menumis pisang would be unusual unless it’s a special recipe.