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Questions & Answers about Pagi ini langit mendung.
Why is it pagi ini and not ini pagi?
In Indonesian, demonstratives like ini (this) usually come after the noun: pagi ini = “this morning.” The same pattern appears in malam ini (tonight), hari ini (today), bulan ini (this month). Saying ini pagi sounds unnatural in Indonesian.
Can I put the time at the end, like Langit mendung pagi ini?
Yes. Both Pagi ini, langit mendung and Langit mendung pagi ini are natural. Putting the time first is common to set the scene; putting it last adds afterthought emphasis to the time.
Where is the English “is”? Why isn’t there adalah?
Indonesian often uses adjectives as predicates without a verb “to be.” So Langit mendung literally “Sky overcast” = “The sky is overcast.” The linking word adalah is used mainly between nouns (e.g., Dia adalah guru). You should not say Langit adalah mendung.
Is mendung an adjective or a verb? It looks like it has a men- prefix.
Mendung is an adjective meaning “overcast/gloomy (sky).” It is not a verb and does not contain the meN- prefix—its root is simply mendung.
What’s the difference between mendung, berawan, and cerah?
- mendung: overcast/dark, often suggests rain clouds and a gloomy sky.
- berawan: cloudy (neutral, used a lot in forecasts).
- cerah: clear/bright. Examples:
- Langit mendung. (Overcast.)
- Langit berawan. (Cloudy.)
- Langit cerah. (Clear.)
How do I negate it? Is tidak mendung okay?
Yes, tidak negates adjectives: Hari ini tidak mendung. However, speakers often use the antonym instead: Hari ini cerah (Today is clear). Both are fine, but the antonym can sound more natural.
How can I say “very/really overcast”?
Common intensifiers:
- Formal/neutral: sangat (before) or sekali (after): Langit sangat mendung / Langit mendung sekali.
- Colloquial: banget (after): Langit mendung banget. Comparatives: lebih mendung daripada kemarin (more overcast than yesterday).
What’s the nuance difference between pagi ini and tadi pagi? What about pada/di?
- pagi ini: this morning (can refer to the current morning or earlier today).
- tadi pagi: earlier this morning (clearly in the past, earlier today).
- pada pagi ini: “on this morning,” more formal/written; everyday speech drops pada.
- Avoid di pagi ini for a specific time; use pada if you must use a preposition. Generic “in the morning” is di pagi hari (not tied to “this morning”).
Can I omit langit and just say Pagi ini mendung?
Yes. In weather talk, Indonesian often drops the obvious subject. Pagi ini mendung = “It’s overcast this morning.”
How do I pronounce the sentence naturally?
- Pagi: PA-gee (g as in “go”; stress on PA)
- ini: EE-nee (stress on EE)
- langit: LAH-ngit (ng as in “sing”; stress on LAH)
- mendung: men-DOONG (short e like “men”; final ng as in “sing”; stress on men) Indonesian stress typically falls on the second-to-last syllable.
Does Indonesian mark tense here? How would I say “already,” “still,” or “will”?
There’s no tense marking on the adjective. You add aspect words:
- sudah (already): Langit sudah mendung.
- masih (still): Langit masih mendung.
- akan (will): Langit akan mendung (possible in forecasts; often people say akan berawan/mendung or rephrase: Diperkirakan langit mendung).
Can I use sedang or lagi to mean “currently”?
Yes:
- Neutral: Langit sedang mendung (the sky is overcast right now).
- Colloquial: Langit lagi mendung. You can also use sekarang: Sekarang langit mendung.
How do I say “today” instead of “this morning”?
Use hari ini:
- Hari ini langit mendung. (Today the sky is overcast.) This suggests it’s expected to be overcast for much of the day. If you only mean the morning, stick with pagi ini.
Is mendung only for the sky?
Mostly, yes, but it can be metaphorical for a gloomy mood/face:
- Wajahnya mendung. (His/Her face looks gloomy.)
- Suasana mendung. (The atmosphere is gloomy.) For clouds themselves, you’ll hear awan mendung (rain clouds).
What about articles? How do I say “the sky” vs “a sky”?
Indonesian has no articles. Langit can mean “the sky” from context. To make it feel definite/emphatic or “that particular sky,” speakers sometimes add -nya: Langitnya mendung (“the sky is overcast,” with a “that/our/the” feel).
Can I say Langit adalah mendung?
No. Don’t use adalah before adjectives. Say Langit mendung.
Can I swap pagi for other times of day?
Yes:
- siang ini (late morning/midday-today): Siang ini langit mendung.
- sore ini (late afternoon-today): Sore ini langit mendung.
- malam ini (tonight): Usually you’d use mendung less at night; people say Malam ini berawan (cloudy) or Malam ini langit cerah (clear).
Is pada pagi ini more polite?
It’s more formal/written, not “polite” per se. In everyday speech, pagi ini is the natural choice.