Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Keponakan laki-laki dia berjalan ke teras sambil tertawa. - His/Her nephew walks to the porch while laughing.

Possession in Indonesian follows the noun. So keponakan laki-laki dia is correct. You cannot say dia keponakan laki-laki for “his male nephew” (that would sound like “he is a male nephew”). A very natural alternative is to attach -nya: keponakan laki-lakinya.

Is “laki-laki” necessary? Isn’t a nephew already male?

In Indonesian, keponakan is gender-neutral (niece or nephew). Adding laki-laki specifies male. If gender isn’t important, you can just say keponakannya or keponakan dia.

Which is more natural: “dia” after the noun or the clitic “-nya”?

Both are fine. Keponakan laki-laki dia is clear, but keponakan laki-lakinya often flows better and also tends to feel more definite/specific in context.

Does “dia” mean he or she here?

Dia is gender-neutral (he/she). The sentence doesn’t specify the possessor’s gender; context would.

Could someone misread “dia” as the subject of “berjalan”?

No. The subject is the whole noun phrase keponakan laki-laki dia. Then comes the predicate berjalan ke teras sambil tertawa. In speech you would naturally pause after the subject, which prevents ambiguity.

Why “berjalan” and not just “jalan” or “pergi”?

berjalan is standard for “to walk.”
jalan (without ber-) is common in casual speech: Keponakan… jalan ke teras…
pergi means “to go,” not specifically on foot: pergi ke teras is also fine but loses the “on foot” nuance.

Why is it “ke teras” and not “di teras”?

ke marks motion toward a place (to). di marks location (at/on).

berjalan ke teras = walked to the porch
berjalan di teras = walked on the porch

Could I use “kepada” instead of “ke” here?

No. kepada is used for destinations that are people/recipients (to someone). For places, use ke.

What’s the difference between “teras” and “beranda”?

Both can translate as porch/veranda. Teras often suggests a porch/terrace area (front or back). Beranda leans toward veranda/porch with a roofed sitting area. Usage overlaps and varies by region; teras is very common in Indonesian.

What exactly does “sambil” do? Can the subjects be different?

sambil links two simultaneous actions by the same subject: walk while laugh. If the subjects differ, don’t use sambil; use sementara, ketika, or a separate clause.

Do I need “sedang” to show a progressive meaning?

Not required. The sentence is fine without it. You can add sedang to emphasize the ongoing aspect: …sedang berjalan ke teras sambil tertawa.

Is “tertawa” different from “ketawa”?

tertawa is standard/neutral. ketawa is informal/colloquial. Reduplication increases the sense of repeated or carefree action: tertawa-tertawa / ketawa-ketawa.

Is the hyphen in “laki-laki” required?

Yes, standard spelling is laki-laki (with a hyphen). A single-word alternative is lelaki (noun: “man”). Colloquial cowok means “guy/male” and is informal.

Can I front the “sambil” phrase?

Yes. Sambil tertawa, keponakan laki-laki dia berjalan ke teras. This is a stylistic change and is perfectly acceptable.

If the person has many nieces/nephews, how do I say “the male one” or “one of his male nephews”?

“The male one”: Keponakannya yang laki-laki berjalan…
“One of his male nephews”: Seorang keponakan laki-lakinya berjalan… (emphasizes one among several)