Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Betapa tenangnya teras ini setelah badai!

Betapa introduces an exclamation of degree: How + adjective! It expresses strong feeling and is not a real question. It’s like saying How calm...! or What a calm...!

Why does tenang have -nya? Does it mean its calm?

In this pattern, -nya after an adjective marks exclamatory degree/nominalizes the adjective: Betapa + Adj-nya + Subject. Here -nya does not mean his/her/its; it just makes the exclamation sound natural. Example: Betapa indahnya pemandangan ini!

Can I drop -nya and say Betapa tenang teras ini ...?

With betapa + adjective + noun, Indonesian strongly prefers the -nya. Without -nya can show up in poetry or very casual speech, but in standard usage keep -nya: Betapa tenangnya teras ini ...

What is the usual word order with betapa?

For adjectival exclamations: Betapa + adjective-nya + subject + (extra info).

Betapa dinginnya malam ini! With a full clause (subject + verb), -nya is not used:
Betapa saya merindukanmu.

Are there other natural ways to express the same idea?

Yes:

Alangkah tenangnya teras ini setelah badai! (very close in tone)
Teras ini sangat tenang setelah badai. (neutral statement)
Teras ini tenang sekali setelah badai. (neutral, emphatic)
Tenang banget teras ini habis badai! (informal/colloquial)
Betapa tenangnya di teras ini setelah badai! (focuses on being on the terrace)

How is betapa different from berapa and bagaimana?

betapa = exclamatory how (not a question): Betapa bagusnya film itu!
berapa = how many/how much (asks for a number/amount): Berapa harganya?
bagaimana = how/in what way (asks for manner/state): Bagaimana cuacanya?

What exactly does teras refer to? Is it porch, patio, or balcony?

teras: a porch/terrace/patio attached to a house (often ground level or slightly raised).
beranda: veranda/porch; often interchangeable with teras.
balkon: balcony (projecting from an upper floor).
Use teras/beranda for a ground-level porch, balkon for an upper-floor balcony.

Why is ini after teras instead of before it like in English?

Indonesian demonstratives follow the noun: teras ini = this terrace, rumah itu = that house. They don’t come before the noun as in English.

Can I say di teras ini instead of teras ini? Does it change the meaning?

Yes: Betapa tenangnya di teras ini setelah badai! means How calm it is on this terrace after the storm. The original makes the terrace the subject; the di version highlights the location/atmosphere.

Is setelah the same as sesudah? What about habis or usai?

setelah ≈ sesudah (standard synonyms; setelah is a bit more common).
habis (colloquial): habis badai.
usai (literary/formal/press): usai badai.

What does badai cover? Is it any kind of storm?

Badai = storm (strong winds/disturbance). Related terms:

badai petir: thunderstorm
angin topan/topan: typhoon/cyclone (stronger system)
puting beliung: tornado
It’s often used metaphorically too: badai masalah (a storm of problems).

Does tenang have synonyms? When would I use hening, sunyi, or damai instead?

tenang: calm, not agitated (water, people, places).
hening: hushed, very quiet (focus on silence).
sunyi: quiet/empty, sometimes lonely or deserted.
damai: peaceful (absence of conflict), not necessarily silent.
Here tenang fits best for the serene, settled feeling after a storm.

How would I say this as a plain statement, not an exclamation?

Teras ini sangat tenang setelah badai.
Teras ini begitu tenang setelah badai.
Teras ini tenang sekali setelah badai.