Kami menonton pertunjukan seni di teater kota.

We watch an art performance at the city theater.

Breakdown of Kami menonton pertunjukan seni di teater kota.

• di: at
• kami: we
• menonton: to watch
• kota: city
• seni: the art
• teater: the theater
• pertunjukan: the show

Questions & Answers about Kami menonton pertunjukan seni di teater kota.

What is the difference between kami and kita, and why is kami used here?

Indonesian has two words for we:

• kami = we (not including the person spoken to) → exclusive we
• kita = we (including the person spoken to) → inclusive we

In the sentence Kami menonton pertunjukan seni di teater kota, kami tells us that:

• the speaker and at least one other person watched the show,
• but the listener was not part of that group.

If the speaker wanted to include the listener (for example, “We watched the art performance, remember?”), they would say kita, not kami.

What does menonton mean exactly, and how is it different from melihat?

Both menonton and melihat relate to seeing, but they’re used differently:

• menonton = to watch (something like a show, movie, sports game, TV, performance)

  • Focus: a performance or program you sit and watch.
  • Example: menonton film, menonton konser, menonton pertandingan bola.

• melihat = to see / to look at (more general)

  • Can be used for anything you see.
  • Example: melihat burung di pohon (to see a bird in the tree).

In Kami menonton pertunjukan seni, menonton is appropriate because an art performance is something you watch as an event, not just briefly see.

What exactly does pertunjukan seni mean? Is it an art exhibition or a performance?

Pertunjukan seni literally means art performance or art show. It usually refers to performing arts, such as:

• dance performances,
• theater plays,
• music performances,
• traditional performances (wayang, gamelan, etc.).

If you want to talk about an art exhibition (paintings, sculptures in a gallery), Indonesian more often uses:

• pameran seni = art exhibition.

So:

• pertunjukan seni → people performing on a stage.
• pameran seni → artworks displayed in a space.

Is pertunjukan seni singular or plural? How would I say “art performances (plural)”?

By itself, pertunjukan seni is neutral about number. It can mean:

• an art performance or
• art performances,

depending on context.

If you really want to show it is plural, you can:

• Add a number: dua pertunjukan seni (two art performances)
• Use a quantifier: beberapa pertunjukan seni (several art performances)
• Repeat the noun (common Indonesian way to mark plurality):
  pertunjukan-pertunjukan seni (art performances)

But in everyday speech, people often just say pertunjukan seni, and the listener understands from context whether it’s one or more.

Why is there no word for “the” or “a” in this sentence?

Indonesian does not have separate words for the or a/an like English.

• pertunjukan seni can mean an art performance or the art performance.
• teater kota can mean a city theater or the city theater.

Definiteness (the/a) is understood from context, or made clearer by adding other words, such as:

• sebuah pertunjukan seni = an art performance (one performance, rather generic)
• pertunjukan seni itu = that art performance / the art performance
  (using itu to indicate something specific/already known)

What does di teater kota mean exactly, and how does di work here?

di is a preposition meaning at / in / on, used for locations.

• di teater = at the theater
• di teater kota = at the city theater

So di teater kota is naturally translated as at the city theater.
Word by word:

• di → at / in
• teater → theater
• kota → city

Here, teater kota behaves like a noun phrase: “city theater” (a theater belonging to or located in the city).
di is required to show it’s a place where the action happens.

What is the difference between di teater kota and ke teater kota?

• di = at / in (location where something is or happens)
• ke = to (direction of movement towards a place)

So:

• Kami menonton pertunjukan seni di teater kota.
  → We watch the performance at the city theater. (location)

• Kami pergi ke teater kota.
  → We go to the city theater. (movement)

You normally don’t say menonton ke teater kota. You use di with menonton because you’re talking about where the watching happens, not where you’re going.

Can I move the phrase di teater kota to another position in the sentence?

Yes, Indonesian word order is flexible for location phrases. For example:

• Kami menonton pertunjukan seni di teater kota. (most natural)
• Kami di teater kota menonton pertunjukan seni.
• Di teater kota, kami menonton pertunjukan seni.

They all mean essentially the same thing. Differences are mainly emphasis:

• Starting with Di teater kota, ... emphasizes the location first.
• The original order (... di teater kota) is the most neutral and common in everyday speech.

Could I drop kami and just say Menonton pertunjukan seni di teater kota?

Yes, in many spoken or informal contexts, Indonesian speakers drop the subject if it’s already clear from context:

• Menonton pertunjukan seni di teater kota kemarin.
  → (We/I/they) watched an art performance at the city theater yesterday.

However:

• Without kami, the subject becomes ambiguous (could be “I”, “we”, “they”, even “you” depending on context).
• In formal writing or when clarity matters, it’s better to keep kami.

In the original sentence, Kami is there to clearly say that the subject is we (not including you).

Is menonton formal? Can I use a more casual version in conversation?

menonton itself is neutral and fine in both spoken and written Indonesian.

In casual speech, people often shorten it to:

• nonton (colloquial, very common)

So in everyday conversation you might hear:

• Kami nonton pertunjukan seni di teater kota.

or even, with both subject and prefix dropped in very casual speech:

• (Kita) nonton pertunjukan seni di teater kota.

But for learners and for any semi-formal context, menonton is perfectly safe and correct.

How do I know what tense this sentence is in? Is it past, present, or future?

Indonesian verbs do not change form for tense.
Menonton stays the same whether it’s:

• past: We watched
• present: We are watching
• future: We will watch

Tense is shown by time words or context:

• Kami tadi malam menonton pertunjukan seni di teater kota.
  → We watched an art performance at the city theater last night. (past)

• Sekarang kami menonton pertunjukan seni di teater kota.
  → We are watching an art performance now. (present)

• Besok kami akan menonton pertunjukan seni di teater kota.
  → We will watch an art performance tomorrow. (future)

Without extra words, Kami menonton pertunjukan seni di teater kota can be interpreted according to context.

How do I pronounce menonton and teater correctly as an English speaker?

A rough guide:

• menonton → muh-NON-ton

  • me- like “meh/muh”
  • non like English “non” (rhymes with “gone” in many accents)
  • ton like “ton” in “button” (not stressed)
  • Main stress usually on the middle syllable: me-NON-ton.

• teater → TEH-ah-ter

  • te- like “teh”
  • a like “a” in “father”
  • ter like “tur” in “turkey” but very short
  • Often said as te-A-ter or TE-a-ter, similar rhythm to English “theater” but with clearer vowels.

Indonesian vowels are generally short and pure (no diphthongs), and each written syllable is pronounced.