Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Indonesian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Kami mengobrol di jalan pulang.
What’s the difference between kami and kita here?
- kami = we/us (excluding the listener). You’re telling someone else about what “we” did.
- kita = we/us (including the listener). Use this if you’re talking to someone who was part of the group. Example: If you’re texting the person who was with you, say Kita mengobrol di jalan pulang.
Is mengobrol formal or casual? Can I just say ngobrol?
- mengobrol is neutral/standard.
- ngobrol is the common casual form (you’ll hear and see it a lot in speech and informal writing).
- More formal/synonymous options: berbincang, bercakap-cakap, membincang(kan), membicarakan (the last two are often “to discuss” something specific).
What’s the root of mengobrol, and what does the prefix mean?
- Root: obrol (chat).
- Prefix meN- forms active verbs; before vowels it becomes meng-, hence mengobrol.
- Related forms: obrolan (a chat/conversation).
- You can say mengobrol tentang X = chat about X (intransitive verb + preposition).
Does the sentence indicate past, present, or future?
Indonesian doesn’t mark tense by verb forms. Context or time words show time:
- Past: Tadi kami mengobrol di jalan pulang. / Kami sudah mengobrol…
- Progressive/ongoing: Kami sedang mengobrol… (neutral) / Kami lagi ngobrol… (casual)
- Future: Kami akan mengobrol… / Nanti kami mengobrol di jalan pulang.
What exactly does di jalan pulang mean?
Literally “on the way home.”
- jalan = road/way (a noun here)
- pulang = go home/return home (functioning as a modifier) So jalan pulang = the way home; di marks location: on/at the way home.
Is pulang a verb here? How can a verb modify a noun?
pulang is a verb in core meaning (“to go home”), but Indonesian often lets verbs modify nouns directly. In jalan pulang, pulang narrows jalan to mean “the route for going home.”
Is di here a preposition or the passive prefix di-?
It’s the preposition di (separate word) meaning “at/on/in.”
- Preposition: spaced, e.g., di jalan.
- Passive prefix: attached to verbs, e.g., dipanggil (was called). No space.
Can I front the location phrase for emphasis?
Yes. Di jalan pulang, kami mengobrol. This puts light focus on the setting. Both orders are fine; the meaning is the same.
How do I say “We were chatting while walking home”?
Use sambil (while):
- Kami mengobrol sambil berjalan pulang. Alternatives: Kami mengobrol sambil jalan pulang (casual), sambil berjalan ke rumah.
Are there alternative ways to say “on the way home”?
Yes:
- dalam perjalanan pulang (during the trip home)
- di perjalanan pulang (on the trip home)
- waktu pulang / ketika pulang (when going home)
- Casual: pas pulang, lagi di jalan pulang
Is jalan here “road” or “to walk”?
It’s the noun “road/way.” Clues:
- di typically takes a location noun.
- The verb “to walk” is usually berjalan (standard). In jalan pulang, jalan is a noun.
How do I include who we chatted with?
Use dengan (with):
- Kami mengobrol dengan Sarah di jalan pulang. Word order is flexible: Kami mengobrol di jalan pulang dengan Sarah also works.
How can I make it clear it was brief or long?
Add duration words:
- Brief: Kami mengobrol sebentar di jalan pulang.
- Long: Kami mengobrol lama di jalan pulang.
Any pronunciation tips for mengobrol and pulang?
- mengobrol: the ng is a velar nasal [ŋ]; me-ngobrol flows as one chunk. Stress is light and even.
- pulang: final -ng is also [ŋ], not a hard “g.”
Do I need “the” in Indonesian, like “on the way home”?
No articles in Indonesian. jalan pulang can mean “the way home” or “a way home,” depending on context. To specify, you can add itu (that): di jalan pulang itu.
Is mengobrol only for in-person chatting?
Mostly it implies casual conversation, but it’s widely used for phone or online chat too:
- Kami mengobrol lewat telepon/WhatsApp. For formal meetings, prefer berdiskusi, rapat, or membahas.