Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Saya suka latihan kebugaran di lapangan setiap sore. - I like fitness training on the field every afternoon.

saya = neutral, polite, safe in almost all situations (formal and informal).
aku = more casual/intimate, used with close friends, family, or people of the same age.

So Saya suka latihan kebugaran... sounds neutral and polite.
With close friends you might say: Aku suka latihan kebugaran di lapangan setiap sore.

What is the difference between suka, cinta, and gemar?

All can be related to “like/love,” but they’re used differently:

suka = “to like”; the most common, neutral choice.
- Saya suka latihan kebugaran. = I like working out.
cinta = “to love” (strong emotion, usually for people or very strong passion).
- Saya cinta kamu. = I love you.
- Using cinta with exercise sounds overly dramatic.
gemar = “to be fond of,” “to enjoy as a hobby”; a bit more formal/bookish.
- Saya gemar latihan kebugaran. = I’m fond of fitness training.

In everyday speech, suka is the most natural here.

Is latihan kebugaran a common way to say “working out”? Could I just say olahraga?

latihan kebugaran literally means “fitness training / workout” and is understandable and correct.
But in everyday conversation, people often say:

olahraga = exercise / sports (very common and natural)
latihan fisik = physical training (often in sports, military, etc.)

So these are all possible:

Saya suka latihan kebugaran di lapangan setiap sore.
Saya suka olahraga di lapangan setiap sore. (more generic/natural)
Saya suka latihan fisik di lapangan setiap sore.

If you just mean “I like exercising,” olahraga is usually the simplest, most natural choice.

Why is there no verb like “to do” (e.g. melakukan) in the sentence?

In Indonesian, you often don’t need an extra verb like “do.”

English:

“I like to do fitness exercises.”

Indonesian can simply say:

Saya suka latihan kebugaran. (literally: I like fitness training.)

You could say Saya suka melakukan latihan kebugaran, but it sounds heavier and more formal.
Everyday speech drops melakukan and treats latihan kebugaran as the activity itself.

Could I say Saya suka berlatih kebugaran instead of Saya suka latihan kebugaran?

You can, but it’s less common/natural.

berlatih = “to practice/train”
berlatih kebugaran = “to do fitness training” (grammatically fine)

However, people more often say:

latihan kebugaran (noun phrase: fitness training)
or use a simpler verb: berolahraga (to exercise/play sports)

More natural alternatives:

Saya suka berolahraga di lapangan setiap sore.
Saya suka latihan kebugaran di lapangan setiap sore.

Saya suka berlatih kebugaran is understandable but sounds a bit stiff or technical.

What exactly does lapangan mean here?

lapangan means a (usually open) field/court/ground used for activities like sports, ceremonies, or gatherings.

Depending on context, di lapangan could mean:

at the sports field
on the playing field/court
in the open yard/ground (e.g., school yard)

It does not mean an indoor gym. For “gym/fitness center,” Indonesian usually uses:

gym (pronounced “jim”)
pusat kebugaran (fitness center)

So “I like working out at the field every afternoon” is a good match for di lapangan.

Can I change the word order of the place and time parts, like moving setiap sore?

Yes, Indonesian word order is flexible for time and place expressions. All of these are possible:

Saya suka latihan kebugaran di lapangan setiap sore.
Saya suka latihan kebugaran setiap sore di lapangan.
Setiap sore, saya suka latihan kebugaran di lapangan.

They all mean the same thing.
Placing Setiap sore at the beginning adds a bit of emphasis on every afternoon.

What is the difference between setiap sore and tiap sore?

Both mean “every afternoon/evening.”

setiap sore = slightly more formal/neutral
tiap sore = a bit more casual/colloquial

In practice:

Saya latihan kebugaran setiap sore.
Saya latihan kebugaran tiap sore.

Both are natural and commonly used.

Does sore mean “afternoon” or “evening”? When does sore start and end?

sore covers the period from late afternoon into early evening, roughly:

from about 3–4 pm until around 6–7 pm, depending on local habits.

Very roughly:

siang = midday / early afternoon
sore = late afternoon / early evening
malam = night

So setiap sore = every late afternoon / early evening (e.g., after work, after school).

How do I know the tense? Could this sentence mean past, present, or future?

Indonesian verbs don’t change form for tense (no -ed, -s, etc.).
Saya suka latihan kebugaran di lapangan setiap sore is inherently habitual because of suka (“like”) and setiap sore (“every afternoon”).

Depending on context, it’s usually understood as:

“I like working out at the field every afternoon.” (general habit, present)

To make time clearer, you can add time words:

Dulu saya suka... = I used to like...
Sekarang saya suka... = Now I like...
Nanti saya akan suka... is unusual; we normally don’t talk about future liking that way.

Is Saya suka latihan kebugaran di lapangan setiap sore natural-sounding, or is there a more typical way to say it?

It is correct and understandable, but depending on context, Indonesians might say it a bit more simply:

Saya suka berolahraga di lapangan setiap sore.
(I like exercising at the field every afternoon.)

Or, if the context is clearly about fitness:

Saya suka olahraga di lapangan setiap sore.

latihan kebugaran is fine, just slightly more formal/technical than olahraga in everyday speech.

Could I drop Saya and just say Suka latihan kebugaran di lapangan setiap sore?

Yes, in informal spoken Indonesian, the subject is often dropped when it’s obvious from context.

(Saya) suka latihan kebugaran di lapangan setiap sore.

In writing or when first introducing the information, including Saya is clearer. Dropping Saya feels more casual and conversational.