Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Saya suka kisah masa kecil nenek saya. - I like the story of my grandmother's childhood.

Putting saya first (saya nenek) does not mean my grandmother; it just sounds like two separate nouns and is not correct as a possessive.

Another common way to show possession is:

nenek saya = my grandmother
nenekku = my grandmother (using the suffix -ku, more informal/written)

But the core pattern is always: thing + owner.

How does masa kecil nenek saya mean my grandmother’s childhood?

Let’s go step by step:

masa = period / time
kecil = small; in this phrase, it functions like child‑ (childhood)
→ masa kecil = childhood
nenek saya = my grandmother

Now combine:

masa kecil nenek saya
= (masa kecil) + (nenek saya)
= childhood + my grandmother
= my grandmother’s childhood

Indonesian often strings nouns like this:

rumah nenek saya = my grandmother’s house
masa kecil adik saya = my younger sibling’s childhood

So X Y Z often means Z’s Y X in English.

Does kisah mean the same thing as cerita?

They are very close, and in many contexts you can use either:

kisah
- story, tale
- often feels a bit more narrative, sometimes more emotional or serious
- often used with life stories, love stories, religious stories
- examples: kisah hidupnya (the story of his/her life), kisah cinta (love story)
cerita
- story, a telling, a narrative
- very common and neutral, used for everyday stories, jokes, etc.
- examples: cerita pendek (short story), cerita lucu (funny story)

In this sentence:

Saya suka kisah masa kecil nenek saya.
You could also say:
- Saya suka cerita masa kecil nenek saya.

Both are natural. Kisah might sound just a bit more like a life story / touching story.

Is kisah singular or plural? Does it mean story or stories?

Indonesian nouns usually do not show plural by changing form. So:

kisah can mean a story, the story, or stories, depending on context.

In your sentence:

Saya suka kisah masa kecil nenek saya.

This could be understood as:

I like the story of my grandmother’s childhood, or
I like stories about my grandmother’s childhood.

If you really want to emphasize plural, you can say:

kisah‑kisah masa kecil nenek saya (stories of my grandmother’s childhood)
banyak kisah masa kecil nenek saya (many stories about my grandmother’s childhood)

The repetition kisah‑kisah or a word like banyak often signals plural.

Why is kecil after masa and not before it, like in English?

In Indonesian, descriptive words (adjectives) usually come after the noun:

masa kecil = small period → childhood
rumah besar = big house
buku baru = new book
anak nakal = naughty child

So the pattern is usually:

noun + adjective

In your sentence:

masa (period) + kecil (small)
→ masa kecil (childhood)

This is normal word order for Indonesian.

Can I say Saya menyukai kisah masa kecil nenek saya instead of Saya suka …? What is the difference?

You can, and it is grammatically correct:

Saya suka kisah masa kecil nenek saya.
Saya menyukai kisah masa kecil nenek saya.

Differences:

suka
- very common, everyday, neutral
- slightly more flexible, can be used almost like an adjective:
  - Saya suka kopi. (I like coffee.)
  - Dia suka marah. (He/she often gets angry / tends to be angry.)
menyukai
- more clearly a verb to like / to favor
- sounds a bit more formal or written
- used more in formal writing, news, essays, or to sound a bit more serious

In normal conversation, Saya suka … is more natural.

Could I drop Saya and just say Suka kisah masa kecil nenek saya?

Yes, in the right context. Indonesian often drops the subject when it is clear from context:

(Saya) suka kisah masa kecil nenek saya.
(Dia) suka kisah masa kecil neneknya.

Without Saya, Suka kisah masa kecil nenek saya. would usually still be understood as I like …, but:

it feels a bit more incomplete or casual, like an answer or comment, not a standalone statement.
it is common in spoken Indonesian or in chat/text, especially as a response:
- A: Kamu suka apa? (What do you like?)
- B: Suka kisah masa kecil nenek saya. (Like my grandmother’s childhood stories.)

For clear, full sentences (especially in writing or learning), it is better to keep Saya.

Can I say the same thing with dari, like kisah masa kecil dari nenek saya?

You can, but the nuance changes slightly:

kisah masa kecil nenek saya
- very natural, compact
- literally: story of childhood [of] my grandmother
- the standard, preferred way
kisah masa kecil dari nenek saya
- literally: childhood story from my grandmother
- sounds more like stories that my grandmother tells about childhood (maybe her own, maybe others), depending on context

So:

If you mean my grandmother’s childhood (as a time in her life), use:
kisah masa kecil nenek saya
If you mean stories that come from my grandmother (she is the storyteller), say:
kisah dari nenek saya
or
kisah masa kecil dari nenek saya (if you mean childhood stories she tells).

Does nenek always mean grandmother, or can it also mean old woman?

Nenek mainly means:

grandmother (in a family context)
- nenek saya = my grandmother
In some contexts, it can be used like granny / old lady, either:
- affectionately: calling an older woman Nenek (like saying Gran), or
- descriptively: nenek itu = that old woman / that granny

In your sentence, because of saya:

nenek saya is very clearly my grandmother, not just any old woman.

Could I reorder the noun phrase as kisah nenek saya masa kecil?

That word order is not natural in Indonesian. The usual way is:

kisah masa kecil nenek saya (correct and natural)

Trying to say:

kisah nenek saya masa kecil

sounds awkward and unclear, because:

Indonesian prefers the more consistent order [main noun] + [descriptor(s)]
masa kecil nenek saya is a neat, clear noun phrase: my grandmother’s childhood

If you want a variation, there are other natural options:

Saya suka kisah tentang masa kecil nenek saya.
= I like stories about my grandmother’s childhood.

But you should not move masa kecil to the end like in your example.

Is there a more informal way to say Saya suka kisah masa kecil nenek saya?

Yes. You can adjust:

The pronoun Saya → Aku (more informal/intimate)
- Aku suka kisah masa kecil nenek aku. (spoken, casual)
- Aku suka kisah masa kecil nenekku. (also casual; -ku is an informal possessive suffix)
Both subject and possessive more informally:
- Aku suka kisah masa kecil nenek aku.
- Aku suka kisah masa kecil nenekku.

Note:

Saya … nenek saya = neutral / polite
Aku … nenekku = more intimate, to friends, family, same age, etc.