Kami duduk di tangga sambil mengobrol.

We sit on the stairs while chatting.

Breakdown of Kami duduk di tangga sambil mengobrol.

• kami: we
• sambil: while
• di: on
• mengobrol: to chat
• duduk: to sit
• tangga: the stairs

Questions & Answers about Kami duduk di tangga sambil mengobrol.

What’s the difference between kami and kita here?

Kami = we (excluding the listener).
Kita = we (including the listener).
Choose based on whether the person you’re talking to was part of the group.

Do I need a word like “the” before tangga?

Indonesian has no articles. di tangga can mean “on the stairs” or “on some stairs,” depending on context. To specify “the stairs,” use a determiner like tangga itu (those/the stairs).

Does tangga mean “stairs” or “ladder”? How can I be specific?

It can mean either; context decides. To be precise:

• tangga rumah = staircase (in a house)
• anak tangga = a step
• tangga lipat = folding/step ladder
• tangga darurat = emergency stairs

Why is di written separately in di tangga? When is it written together?

Separate di is the preposition “at/in/on” (e.g., di tangga).
Attached di- is the passive verb prefix (e.g., ditulis = written). Don’t write ditangga for the preposition.

Do I need sedang or lagi to show the action is ongoing?

No. Indonesian doesn’t require a progressive marker.
Optional emphasis:

• Neutral/formal: Kami sedang duduk di tangga sambil mengobrol.
• Colloquial: Kami lagi duduk di tangga sambil ngobrol.

What exactly does sambil do? How is it different from sementara/ketika/selagi?

• sambil = while (two simultaneous actions by the same subject).
• sementara = while/meanwhile; can introduce a different subject (e.g., Sementara saya duduk, dia menelpon.).
• ketika = when (time point/period, not necessarily simultaneous action).
• selagi = while/as long as (duration, sometimes with a “so long as” nuance).

Is mengobrol formal or casual? What are alternatives?

• mengobrol = to chat (neutral; fine in most contexts).
• ngobrol = colloquial everyday form.
  Alternatives:
• berbincang(-bincang) = to chat (slightly more formal/polite).
• berbicara = to speak/talk (neutral, less “chatty”).
• ngomong = to talk/say (colloquial).

Can mengobrol take a direct object?

No; it’s intransitive. Use:

• mengobrol tentang X = chat about X.
• Or use a transitive verb: membicarakan X = discuss X.

Can I change the word order?

Yes. All are natural:

• Kami duduk di tangga sambil mengobrol.
• Sambil mengobrol, kami duduk di tangga.
• Kami duduk sambil mengobrol di tangga. Meaning stays the same; the first is the clearest.

Would duduk-duduk work here? What does the reduplication add?

Yes. duduk-duduk means “to sit around/hang out,” adding a relaxed, leisurely nuance:
Kami duduk-duduk di tangga sambil mengobrol.
Similar patterns: jalan-jalan (stroll), ngopi-ngopi (have coffee casually).

How do I show past vs. present with this sentence?

Indonesian is tenseless; use time words:

• Past: Tadi kami duduk di tangga sambil mengobrol. / Kemarin kami…
• Present/ongoing: add sedang/lagi if you want emphasis (optional).

How do I pronounce tangga and mengobrol?

• tangga: the ngg is pronounced [ŋg], like “tang-ga” (you can hear a clear g).
• mengobrol: [məŋobrol]; colloquial ngobrol: [ŋobrol].

Is di tangga “on the stairs” or “by the stairs”?

Usually “on the (steps of the) stairs.”
Say di dekat tangga = by/near the stairs,
di anak tangga paling atas = on the top step,
di kaki tangga = at the foot of the stairs,
di bawah tangga = under the stairs.

Can I omit kami?

Yes, if context already makes the subject clear. For example, as a caption:
Duduk di tangga sambil mengobrol.

Should I ever use pada instead of di here?

No. For physical location use di (di tangga). pada is used with time expressions (pada malam hari), recipients/targets (pada saya), and more formal/abstract contexts.