Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kami menunggu di teras sampai hujan reda. - We wait on the porch until the rain lets up.

kami = we (excluding the listener). So the listener was not part of the waiting.
kita = we (including the listener). This would imply the listener was with the group. If you switch to kita, the meaning changes to include the person you’re talking to: Kita menunggu di teras sampai hujan reda.

Why menunggu and not tunggu?

menunggu is the standard active verb form used in statements: Saya/Kami menunggu…
tunggu is the base form. It’s very common in imperatives (Tunggu!) and in casual speech, often after a subject: Kita tunggu di teras… (colloquial). In careful/neutral writing and formal speech, prefer menunggu.

What does the meN- prefix in menunggu do, and why is the spelling like that?

meN- forms active verbs. With roots starting with t, the t drops and the prefix becomes men-.
Root: tunggu → drop the initial t → unggu; add men- → menunggu.

Is nunggu acceptable?

Yes, nunggu is a common informal reduction of menunggu. Example: Kita nunggu di teras sampe hujan reda. Use it in casual speech or texting, not in formal writing.

Why di here? What’s the difference between di and ke?

di marks a location (at/in/on): di teras = on the porch/at the terrace.
ke marks movement to a place: ke teras = to the porch. In this sentence you’re at a location, so use di, not ke.

Do I write di together or separately here?

Separately: di teras. As a preposition, di is a separate word. It only attaches as a prefix in passive verbs (e.g., diambil). Don’t write diteras.

Does teras mean porch or terrace? Is beranda better?

teras commonly means a house porch/terrace area. You can specify teras depan (front porch).
beranda is a near-synonym (veranda/porch) and is also common. Both are fine; regional preference and context vary a little. In many contexts they’re interchangeable.

What does sampai do here?

Here sampai is a conjunction meaning until, introducing a clause: sampai hujan reda = until the rain lets up. Note: sampai can also be a verb meaning to arrive (e.g., sampai di rumah), but not in this sentence.

Is hingga or sampai dengan possible?

hingga is a formal/literary synonym of sampai: Kami menunggu … hingga hujan reda.
sampai dengan is typically used before nouns (time/price ranges): sampai dengan jam lima. Don’t use sampai dengan before a clause like hujan reda.

Why hujan reda and not something like “the rain stops”? What’s the nuance?

reda means to subside/abate (become less intense), not necessarily stop completely.
berhenti means to stop entirely. So:
sampai hujan reda = until the rain eases up.
sampai hujan berhenti = until the rain stops.

Is hujan mereda also correct?

Yes. mereda is very common: Kami menunggu di teras sampai hujan mereda.
Both hujan reda and hujan mereda are natural; mereda may feel a bit more neutral in everyday speech.

Why isn’t there a yang or ketika?

sampai sets an end point (until X happens). That’s what you want here.
ketika means when/at the time that and would change the meaning: Kami menunggu … ketika hujan reda implies you waited when the rain had already cleared, which is odd. No yang is needed.

Can I change the word order, like Kami menunggu sampai hujan reda di teras?

It’s possible, but di teras might then be read as modifying hujan reda (i.e., the rain subsided on the porch), which is odd. Keeping di teras close to menunggu avoids ambiguity. Best: Kami menunggu di teras sampai hujan reda.

How do I show past, present, or ongoing aspect here?

Indonesian doesn’t inflect for tense. Use time or aspect markers:

Past: Tadi/kemarin kami menunggu…
Completed: Kami sudah menunggu…
Ongoing: Kami sedang menunggu… or colloquial Kami lagi nunggu…
Future/intended: Kami akan menunggu…

Can I drop the subject kami?

Yes, if context makes it clear: Menunggu di teras sampai hujan reda.
This is common in conversation or notes. In standalone sentences, keeping kami is clearer.

Do I need a preposition like “for” after menunggu?

No. menunggu takes a direct object:

Correct: menunggu bus / menunggu kamu
Not needed: menunggu untuk bus (incorrect)

Is there a more formal or literary verb for “wait”?

menanti is a slightly more formal/literary synonym. You could say: Kami menanti di teras sampai hujan reda.
In everyday speech, menunggu is more common.

Any informal variants of the whole sentence?

Yes, very natural colloquial Indonesian:

Kita nunggu di teras sampe hujan reda. Notes:
kita includes the listener.
nunggu (informal), sampe (informal for sampai).

Pronunciation tips?

menunggu: the ngg is pronounced [ŋg] (like the “ng” in “sing” plus a hard “g”).
teras and reda have simple, even syllables; Indonesian stress is relatively flat compared to English.