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Harga kopi dan teh di kantin itu sama.

Harga kopi dan teh di kantin itu sama.
The price of coffee and tea at that canteen is the same.
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Questions & Answers about Harga kopi dan teh di kantin itu sama.

What does each word literally mean?
  • harga = price
  • kopi = coffee
  • dan = and
  • teh = tea
  • di = at/in
  • kantin = canteen/cafeteria
  • itu = that/the (demonstrative “that,” often works like “the” for known things)
  • sama = the same/equal
Why is there no word for “is/are” in this sentence?
Indonesian typically drops the verb “to be” in the present tense. Adjectives can function as predicates. So sama serves as the predicate “(is) the same.” You don’t need a word like “is.”
Can I use adalah here?
Not before an adjective like sama. Harga kopi dan teh di kantin itu adalah sama sounds unnatural. Use adalah to link a noun to another noun phrase: Harga kopi di kantin itu adalah Rp10.000.
What does itu do, and why is it after kantin?
Itu is “that” (also often functioning like “the”). When modifying a noun, Indonesian demonstratives come after the noun: kantin itu = “that canteen.” If you said itu kantin, it would mean “that is a canteen,” not “that canteen.”
Can I move di kantin itu to another position?

Yes. All of these are natural:

  • Di kantin itu, harga kopi dan teh sama. (fronted location for emphasis)
  • Harga kopi dan teh di kantin itu sama. (neutral)
  • Harga kopi dan teh sama di kantin itu. (location at the end; still fine)
Does di mean “at” or “in” here? What’s the difference from ke and dari?
  • di = at/in (location)
  • ke = to (destination)
  • dari = from (origin) Here di means “at.” Also note: as a preposition, di is written separately (e.g., di kantin). Don’t confuse it with the passive prefix di-, which attaches to verbs (e.g., dibeli).
Why is harga singular even though it’s talking about coffee and tea? Shouldn’t it be plural?

Indonesian usually doesn’t mark plural. Harga kopi dan teh is understood as “the prices of coffee and tea.” If you want to be explicit, you can repeat the noun or use plural strategies:

  • Harga kopi dan harga teh di kantin itu sama.
  • Harga-harganya sama.
Could the sentence mean there’s one combined price for coffee-and-tea together?

In normal reading, it means the price of coffee equals the price of tea. If you want to say a single bundle price for both items together, clarify:

  • Harga untuk paket kopi dan teh di kantin itu Rp…
  • Kalau dibeli bersama, kopi dan teh harganya Rp…
What’s the difference between sama and sama dengan?
  • sama = the same (predicate adjective): Harga kopi dan teh sama.
  • sama dengan = the same as / equal to (explicit comparison): Harga kopi sama dengan harga teh. Both are correct; the second spells out the comparison.
Can I use seharga instead of sama?

Yes, with a nuance. Seharga means “priced the same” or “priced at.” It’s very natural when followed by an amount:

  • Kopi dan teh di kantin itu seharga Rp10.000. Without an amount, many speakers prefer (harganya) sama.
Are there other natural ways to say this?

Yes:

  • Kopi dan teh di kantin itu harganya sama.
  • Harga kopi sama dengan harga teh di kantin itu.
  • Di kantin itu, harga kopi dan teh sama.
How do I ask “Are the prices the same?”
  • Apakah harga kopi dan teh di kantin itu sama? (formal/neutral)
  • Harga kopi dan teh di kantin itu sama? (casual, rising intonation) A short follow-up check: Sama, kan?
How do I say “The prices are different”?
  • Harga kopi dan teh di kantin itu berbeda.
  • Harga kopi dan teh di kantin itu tidak sama. Casual: … beda.
    Comparatives: Harga kopi lebih mahal/murah daripada/ketimbang harga teh.
How do I ask “How much are coffee and tea there?”
  • Berapa harga kopi dan teh di kantin itu? You can also ask separately: Berapa harga kopi di kantin itu? Berapa harga tehnya?
How do I say “a cup of coffee” or “a glass of tea” in Indonesian?

Use classifiers/measure words:

  • secangkir kopi = a cup of coffee
  • segelas teh = a glass of tea Plural: dua gelas teh, tiga cangkir kopi, etc.
What exactly does kantin mean? Is it the same as warung or kafe?
  • kantin = canteen/cafeteria (often in schools, offices, campuses)
  • warung = small eatery/stall, often simple and local
  • kafe = café (usually more modern/Western-style) They’re different places; choose the one that fits the context.
How do I pronounce the words?
  • harga: HAR-gah (r is tapped; a as in “father”; g is hard)
  • kopi: KOH-pee
  • teh: TEH (short e)
  • kantin: kahn-TEEN
  • itu: EE-too
  • sama: SAH-mah
Is sama ever used to mean “with”?
In colloquial speech, sama can mean “with” (like dengan): Saya pergi sama dia. That’s informal. In this sentence, sama is an adjective meaning “the same.” Don’t mix the uses.
Can I add a number to state the identical price?

Yes:

  • Kopi dan teh di kantin itu masing-masing Rp10.000.
  • Kopi dan teh di kantin itu seharga Rp10.000.
  • Harga kopi dan teh di kantin itu sama—Rp10.000.
Any common mistakes to avoid with this sentence pattern?
  • Don’t say … adalah sama (unnatural with adjectives).
  • Don’t put itu before the noun when it modifies it (say kantin itu, not itu kantin).
  • Don’t write the preposition di glued to the noun (di kantin, not dikantin).
  • Don’t use sama-sama here; that means “together” or “you’re welcome,” not “the same.”