Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Ibu memasak sop ikan untuk makan malam.

In a family context, Ibu usually means Mom/my mother.
As a title, Ibu (often shortened to Bu) is also used like Ma’am/Ms. before a name or when addressing an older woman (e.g., Ibu Sari).
Note on capitalization: It’s capitalized here because it starts the sentence. As a kin term you’ll see both Ibu and ibu; uppercase is common when referring respectfully to one’s own mother.

Do I need to add saya to say “my mother”?

Often no. For close kin, Indonesian frequently omits the possessive if context is clear, so Ibu by itself can imply “my mother.”
To be explicit, use ibu saya or the possessive suffix ibuku. Example: Ibu saya memasak... / Ibuku memasak...

Why is it memasak and not masak? Are both correct?

Masak is the root “to cook.” The prefix meN- forms an active verb: meN- + masak → memasak, which is standard and fits well with a direct object (sop ikan).
In casual speech, people often drop the prefix: Ibu lagi masak sop ikan. Use memasak in neutral/formal writing.

How do I show past, present, or future in this sentence?

Indonesian doesn’t change the verb for tense; add time/aspect words:
- Completed: Ibu sudah memasak...; Tadi malam Ibu memasak...
- In progress: Ibu sedang memasak... (formal); Ibu lagi masak... (casual)
- Future: Ibu akan memasak...; Nanti malam Ibu memasak...
Without markers, Ibu memasak... is time-neutral; context decides.

What does untuk do here? Is it required?

Untuk means “for/for the purpose of” and introduces the purpose: for dinner.
You generally need it; Ibu memasak sop ikan makan malam is not idiomatic.
Colloquial alternative: buat → Ibu memasak sop ikan buat makan malam.
If you mean a time instead of a purpose: Ibu memasak sop ikan malam ini (“tonight”).

Is makan malam a noun (“dinner”) or a verb phrase (“to have dinner”)?

It can be either. Literally “eat + night,” it’s a set phrase meaning “dinner” (noun) or “to have dinner” (verb).
After untuk, it works as a purpose (“in order to have dinner”) or simply “for dinner.” Both readings are natural.

Why is it sop ikan and not ikan sop?

Indonesian puts the head noun first, modifiers after. So “soup (of) fish” is sop ikan.
Compare: rumah sakit (hospital), baju bayi (baby clothes).

How are articles and plurals handled here?

No articles in Indonesian; definiteness (a/the) comes from context.
Plurals are often context-based or formed by reduplication with countables (ikan-ikan), but for dishes/ingredients you don’t reduplicate: sop ikan is standard.

Is sop the same as sup? Which should I use?

Both are accepted. Sop is common in everyday menus (e.g., sop buntut), while sup is a standard dictionary form.
Here, sop ikan and sup ikan are both understood; follow your teacher/materials or local usage.

How do I say “for us/for me” as the beneficiaries?

Add a pronoun after untuk/buat: untuk kami (us, not including the listener), untuk kita (including the listener), untuk saya/aku (for me).
Or use the applicative suffix -kan: Ibu sedang memasakkan kami sop ikan (untuk makan malam) = “Mom is cooking us fish soup.” With memasakkan, the person typically follows the verb.

What is the passive version of this sentence?

Can I move untuk makan malam to the front?

Yes: Untuk makan malam, Ibu memasak sop ikan. Fronting the purpose phrase is fine for emphasis or flow.

Can I use sebagai instead of untuk to mean “for dinner”?

No. Sebagai means “as” (role/function), not purpose. Ibu memasak sop ikan sebagai makan malam sounds odd. Use untuk or buat.

Any quick pronunciation tips?

Ibu = EE-boo; memasak ≈ mə-MAH-sak (final “k” often realized as a brief glottal stop); sop = sop (short o); ikan = EE-kahn; untuk = oon-TOOK; makan malam = MAH-kahn MAH-lahm.