Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Malam ini kami makan mi dengan bawang putih dan merica. - Tonight we eat noodles with garlic and pepper.

kami = we (excluding the listener)
kita = we (including the listener) So use kami if the person you’re talking to is not part of the eating plan. If they are included, say kita: Malam ini kita makan mi.

Is the word order with malam ini at the front required? Can I say Kami makan mi malam ini?

Both are correct. Time expressions are flexible:

Malam ini kami makan mi (fronted for emphasis on “tonight”)
Kami makan mi malam ini (neutral) You can also put it mid-sentence: Kami malam ini makan mi, but that’s less common.

How is tense shown when the verb is just makan?

Verbs don’t change for tense in Indonesian. Time words and aspect markers do the work:

Future/intention: Malam ini kami akan makan mi (going to eat)
In progress: Kami sedang/lagi makan mi (we are eating)
Completed: Kami sudah/telah makan mi (we have eaten) Without markers, makan is neutral; malam ini already tells you it’s about tonight.

What’s the difference between mi and mie?

Standard Indonesian (per dictionaries like KBBI) uses mi. The spelling mie is very common on packaging, menus, and informally. Both are widely understood; use mi in formal writing.

Do I need to mark plural for “noodles”? How do I say “a bowl of noodles” or “two packs of instant noodles”?

No plural marking is needed. Use classifiers/measure words:

A bowl of noodles: semangkuk mi / seporsi mi / sepiring mi
Two packs of instant noodles: dua bungkus mi instan
Some noodles (vague): beberapa mi is uncommon; better to use a measure word.

Does bawang putih literally mean “white onion”? Is that just “garlic”? How do I count cloves?

Yes—bawang (onion family) + putih (white) = garlic. Related words:

bawang merah = shallot
bawang bombai = bulb onion For cloves, use siung: dua siung bawang putih (two cloves of garlic).

What does merica mean? How is it different from lada or from “chili”?

merica and lada both mean pepper (peppercorn/ground pepper):

lada hitam / merica hitam = black pepper
lada putih / merica putih = white pepper Chili pepper is cabai (also spelled cabe informally). Bell pepper is paprika.

Is dengan the only way to say “with” here? What about pakai or sama?

All are possible, with slight tone differences:

dengan = with (neutral, a bit more formal)
pakai / pake = with/using (very common in speech): makan mi pakai bawang putih
sama = with (informal/colloquial): mi sama bawang putih dan merica

Can I drop the subject kami?

Yes, if context makes the subject clear: Malam ini makan mi can work in conversation/texts. It sounds like a plan/schedule item. Including kami removes ambiguity and is safer in neutral/formal contexts.

Is a comma needed after Malam ini?

Optional. You can write Malam ini, kami makan mi … for clarity, especially with longer fronted phrases. With short ones, many writers omit the comma: Malam ini kami …

How do I say “for dinner” using this sentence?

Use makan malam (dinner):

Malam ini kami makan mi untuk makan malam.
Or just: Malam ini kami makan malam dengan mi. Often context makes “for dinner” unnecessary.

What’s the difference between malam ini, nanti malam, and tadi malam?

malam ini = tonight (this evening/tonight)
nanti malam = later tonight (said earlier in the day, sounding more “later on”)
tadi malam = last night

How do I pronounce tricky parts like merica and bawang?

c is pronounced like English “ch”: merica ≈ meh-REE-chah
ng is the “ng” in “sing”: bawang ≈ BAH-wahng
Final h is lightly audible: putih ≈ POO-tih
mi is “mee.” Stress is usually even and not strong like in English.

If I list more ingredients, how do I handle dan (“and”)? Do I use a comma before it?

List items with commas and use dan before the last item:

… dengan bawang putih, merica, dan garam. In simple lists, no comma is needed before dan; some writers add it for clarity, but standard style omits the “Oxford comma.”