Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Agen bilang, kos dekat kampus masih tersedia. - The agent says a boarding room near the campus is still available.

Agen means agent. In this context it most naturally refers to a property/real‑estate agent helping with rentals. It could also mean other types (travel agent, ticket agent), but with kos it’s almost certainly a housing agent. Colloquially, a broker can also be called makelar (less formal).

Is bilang informal? What are more formal alternatives?

Yes, bilang is casual. Common alternatives by register:

Casual: Agen bilang..., Kata agen,...
Neutral: Agen berkata bahwa...
Formal: Agen mengatakan bahwa...
For “according to”: Menurut agen,...

Do I need bahwa or kalau after bilang?

They’re optional. The sentence is fine without them. If you add one:

bahwa sounds more formal: Agen mengatakan bahwa...
kalau is conversational and very common: Agen bilang kalau...

Why is there a comma after bilang? Is it required?

It’s not required for indirect speech. You can write:

Indirect (no comma): Agen bilang kos dekat kampus masih tersedia.
Indirect (with a pause): Agen bilang, kos dekat kampus masih tersedia.
Direct speech (use a colon): Agen bilang: Kos dekat kampus masih tersedia.

What exactly does kos mean?

Kos is a boarding house setup common in Indonesia—typically a house with individual rooms rented out, often to students or workers.

kamar kos = a room in a boarding house
kos-kosan = a boarding‑house complex (colloquial) Related terms: kontrakan (house for longer‑term rent), apartemen (apartment).

Is the spelling kos or kost?

Both are seen. The dictionary standard is kos (and kos-kosan). You’ll see signs and ads using kost too. In formal writing, prefer kos.

Does kos mean “cost”?

No. “Cost/expense” is biaya or ongkos. Kos (or kost) is lodging; ongkos is the word that relates to cost.

Is dekat kampus correct, or should it be di dekat kampus / dekat dengan kampus?

All are used:

dekat kampus = common, colloquial
di dekat kampus = very natural and clear for location
dekat dengan kampus = standard/neutral Avoid dekat ke or dekat dari for this meaning.

Why isn’t there yang before dekat (as in kos yang dekat kampus)?

For short, straightforward modifiers, yang is often omitted. You can say:

kos dekat (dengan) kampus (natural)
kos yang dekat (dengan) kampus (also fine, a bit more explicit/relative‑clause feel) Use yang especially when the modifier is longer or more complex.

Where is the “is” in masih tersedia?

Indonesian doesn’t use a linking verb like “is” before adjectives or stative verbs. Tersedia already means “available,” and masih means “still,” so masih tersedia = “is still available.”

What’s the nuance difference between masih tersedia and masih ada?

Both can translate as “still available,” but:

masih tersedia hints at availability/supply (inventory/status), a bit more formal.
masih ada states existence/remaining presence, very general and common. In practice, both are widely used for rooms, tickets, seats, etc.

How do I say “no longer available” here?

Common options:

sudah tidak tersedia
tidak tersedia lagi
For sold out: sudah habis
For fully occupied lodging: kamar kosnya penuh

Does the sentence imply one room or multiple rooms?

Indonesian doesn’t mark plural by default. Kos... masih tersedia could mean one room or several. To be explicit:

One: Satu kamar kos dekat kampus masih tersedia.
Several: Beberapa kamar kos dekat kampus masih tersedia.

Should I say kamar kos instead of kos if I mean the rooms?

Yes, to avoid ambiguity:

Agen bilang, kamar kos dekat kampus masih tersedia. You can also say: Agen bilang, kamar di kos dekat kampus masih tersedia.

How can I make “the (specific) one” explicit, like “the boarding house near the campus”?

Use demonstratives or -nya for specificity:

kos dekat kampus itu = that specific boarding house near campus
kosnya (if already known in context)
kos yang dekat kampus itu = that one which is near campus

Can I replace Agen bilang with Kata agen or Katanya?

Yes:

Kata agen, ... is very common and natural.
Katanya, ... means “they say/it’s said,” with the source left vague or understood from context.