Walaupun saya sedikit mual, saya tetap minum air hangat pelan-pelan.

to be

Breakdown of Walaupun saya sedikit mual, saya tetap minum air hangat pelan-pelan.

• saya: I
• sedikit: a little
• walaupun: although

Questions & Answers about Walaupun saya sedikit mual, saya tetap minum air hangat pelan-pelan.

Why does the sentence start with walaupun?

Walaupun means although / even though. It introduces a contrast:

• Walaupun saya sedikit mual = Although I feel a little nauseous
• saya tetap minum air hangat pelan-pelan = I still drank/drink warm water slowly

Other common words with a similar meaning are meskipun and walau. In everyday Indonesian, all three are common, though walaupun sounds a bit fuller and slightly more formal than walau.

Why is saya repeated twice?

Indonesian often repeats the subject in both clauses for clarity:

• Walaupun saya sedikit mual, saya tetap minum air hangat pelan-pelan.

Literally:
Although I am a little nauseous, I still drink/drank warm water slowly.

The second saya is not required in every situation, but it is very natural. You could also say:

• Walaupun saya sedikit mual, tetap minum air hangat pelan-pelan.

However, that version sounds less complete on its own and could feel like the subject is being dropped because it is already understood. Repeating saya is clearer and very normal.

What does sedikit mual mean exactly?