Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kami mendapat satu kue masing-masing.

It marks distribution: each person separately gets the item. With it, the sentence means Each of us got one cake apiece. Without it, Kami mendapat satu kue could mean we got one cake in total (shared/collective).

Where can I put masing-masing?

Several positions are natural:

Kami masing-masing mendapat satu kue.
Kami mendapat satu kue masing-masing.
Masing-masing, kami mendapat satu kue. (more written/emphatic)
Kami mendapat masing-masing satu kue. (also acceptable)

All mean the same thing. Putting it before or after the verb or at the end is fine.

Do I have to say satu if I already say masing-masing?

Keep the number for clarity. Kami mendapat kue masing-masing is heard, but it can feel incomplete or ambiguous. …satu kue (or a classifier phrase like sebuah/sepotong kue) is the clear, natural choice.

Should I use sebuah or sepotong instead of satu?

Use a classifier when you want to be precise:

Whole/single item (generic): sebuah kue
A piece/slice: sepotong kue (or seiris for a thin slice)
No classifier: satu kue is acceptable in everyday speech, especially for small pastries. So: Kami masing-masing mendapat sepotong kue (we each got a slice).

Why not say sekue?

The prefix se- attaches to classifiers or certain nouns (e.g., sebuah, seorang, seekor, selembar), not directly to most nouns. There is no sekue in standard Indonesian.

Do I need to make kue plural (kue-kue) here?

No. Indonesian doesn’t mark plural after numerals or with masing-masing. You’d only use kue-kue for a general plural without a number (e.g., Saya suka kue-kue tradisional).

Why is it kami and not kita?

kami = we (excluding the listener)
kita = we (including the listener) The sentence uses kami, implying the listener wasn’t part of the group that got cakes.

What’s the difference among mendapat, mendapatkan, menerima, and dapat?

mendapat = to get/obtain/receive (neutral, common): Kami mendapat satu kue.
mendapatkan = to obtain/get (often a bit more effortful or formal; frequently interchangeable with mendapat): Kami mendapatkan satu kue.
menerima = to receive (focus on being given): Kami menerima satu kue.
dapat = can/able OR get (context decides). In casual speech you’ll also hear nonstandard spelling/pronunciation dapet.

Could dapat be misunderstood as can here?

Not in this structure. If dapat is followed by a verb, it means can (ability): Kami dapat pergi (we can go). If it’s followed by a noun phrase, it means get: Kami dapat satu kue masing-masing (we got one cake each).

Does the sentence mean past or present? How do I show tense?

Indonesian doesn’t inflect for tense. Context or time words/aspect markers do the work:

Past: Tadi kami mendapat…, Kemarin kami mendapat…
Completed: Kami sudah mendapat satu kue masing-masing.
Future: Nanti kami akan mendapat…

Does kue mean cake, cookie, or pastry?

Indonesian kue is broad: it covers cakes, cookies, pastries, and many traditional snacks. For Western-style cake you can say kue tart. If you mean a slice, say sepotong kue.

Can I use masing-masingnya here?

Use it when “each of them” is the subject or when you don’t repeat the group:

Masing-masingnya mendapat satu kue. (Each of them got one cake.) If you keep kami, prefer:
Masing-masing dari kami mendapat satu kue. Avoid Kami masing-masingnya… (not natural).

Is there a passive alternative?

Yes, to emphasize receiving or the giver (often implied):

Kami masing-masing diberi satu kue. (We were each given one cake.)

Do I need the hyphen in masing-masing?

Yes. It’s a reduplication and is written with a hyphen: masing-masing. In texting you may see masing2, but that’s informal.

How is masing-masing different from sendiri-sendiri or satu per satu?

masing-masing = each/apiece (distributive): Kami masing-masing mendapat satu kue.
sendiri-sendiri = individually/separately; sometimes overlaps, but emphasizes doing something on one’s own: Bawa piring sendiri-sendiri.
satu per satu / satu-satu = one by one (sequentially), not necessarily “one each”: Mereka masuk satu per satu.

Does masing-masing modify kue or kami?

It distributes the action over the members of kami (the recipients), not the noun kue itself. Think: for each person in the group, the statement “got one cake” holds.