Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Bibi saya memasak makan malam setiap Sabtu.

In everyday Indonesian, bibi is a general word for an aunt. Usage varies by family and region: some people use bibi mainly for a father’s sister, while others use it for any aunt. In urban speech, tante is also very common for any aunt. Note that bibi can also be used as a polite form of address for an older woman and, in some places, for a female household helper—context tells you which is meant.

Can I say tante saya or bibiku instead of bibi saya?

Yes. All are natural with slightly different vibes:

bibi saya = my aunt (neutral/formal-ish)
tante saya = my aunt (very common in cities)
bibiku = my aunt (using the possessive suffix -ku, more intimate/informal) Other possessive clitics: -mu (your), -nya (his/her). Example: bibimu, bibinya.

Why is it bibi saya and not “saya bibi” for “my aunt”?

In Indonesian, the possessed noun comes first and the possessor follows: bibi saya (aunt my). You can also attach the clitic to the noun: bibiku. Putting the pronoun before the noun (like English “my aunt”) is not the normal pattern.

What’s the difference between memasak and masak?

memasak is the standard active-verb form (with the prefix meN-) and suits neutral/formal contexts.
masak is the bare root. It’s fine in casual speech and often used that way: Bibi saya masak makan malam setiap Sabtu. Both mean “to cook” here; memasak sounds more standard.

Where does the extra me- in memasak come from?

It’s the verbal prefix meN- attached to the root masak. With roots starting with m, the nasal assimilates and you get memasak. Compare: baca → membaca, tulis → menulis, kirim → mengirim.

Is makan malam a verb (“to eat at night”) or a noun (“dinner”) here?

Here it’s a noun phrase meaning “dinner,” functioning as the object of memasak: memasak makan malam = “to cook dinner.” Note: makan malam can also be a verb phrase meaning “to have dinner” (e.g., Kami makan malam pukul tujuh).

Is memasak makan malam natural, or should it be memasak untuk makan malam or menyiapkan makan malam?

All are fine, with nuance:

memasak makan malam = cook the dinner (focus on cooking)
memasak untuk makan malam = cook for dinner (slightly broader)
menyiapkan makan malam = prepare dinner (includes non-cooking tasks) In your sentence, memasak makan malam is perfectly natural.

Can I move the time phrase? For example, Setiap Sabtu, bibi saya memasak makan malam?

Yes. Time expressions are flexible:

Bibi saya memasak makan malam setiap Sabtu.
Setiap Sabtu, bibi saya memasak makan malam. Both are correct. A comma after a fronted time phrase is common in writing.

Do I need hari or pada with days? What about tiap vs setiap?

Options (all correct):

setiap Sabtu (very common)
tiap Sabtu (colloquial-equivalent of setiap)
setiap hari Sabtu (a bit more explicit/wordy) For a single Saturday, you can say pada hari Sabtu = “on Saturday.” Avoid di Sabtu; use pada if you need a preposition.

Should Sabtu be capitalized?

Yes. Days of the week are capitalized in standard Indonesian: Sabtu. The kinship term bibi is lower-case unless it starts the sentence or is used as a title before a name (e.g., Bibi Ani).

How would I say “every Saturday night”? Is it Sabtu malam or malam Sabtu?

Use Sabtu malam for “Saturday night” to avoid ambiguity. In some traditions, malam Sabtu can mean the night before Saturday (Friday night). So: Bibi saya memasak makan malam setiap Sabtu malam if you specifically mean Saturday nights.

How do I mark that it’s happening right now, like “is cooking dinner”?

Use a progressive marker such as sedang (neutral) or lagi (informal):

Bibi saya sedang memasak makan malam (sekarang). Without a time word, Indonesian verbs don’t show tense; aspect comes from words like sedang, sudah, akan, baru, etc.

How do I make it plural: “my aunts cook dinner every Saturday”?

Indonesian often leaves plurality to context. If you need to be explicit:

Bibi-bibi saya memasak makan malam setiap Sabtu. You can also say para bibi saya (more formal) or switch to a more common word like tante-tante saya.

Any pronunciation tips, especially for Sabtu?

Sabtu is typically pronounced [sab-tu]. In fast speech, many speakers simplify to [sap-tu]; both are widely heard.
Stress is usually on the penultimate syllable: me-MA-sak, MA-kan MA-lam, SAB-tu.
Vowels are pure: i as in “machine,” u as in “rule.”

How do I negate it? For example, “My aunt doesn’t cook dinner every Saturday.”

Use tidak before the verb:

Bibi saya tidak memasak makan malam setiap Sabtu. If you mean “not always,” say:
Bibi saya tidak selalu memasak makan malam setiap Sabtu. Use bukan to negate nouns/adjectives, not verbs.

Can I make a passive version?

Yes. Indonesian has a di- passive:

Makan malam dimasak bibi saya setiap Sabtu. You can add oleh but it’s optional: … dimasak oleh bibi saya … The passive focuses on the object (the dinner).