Selama transit di bandara itu, kami menunggu di gerbang keberangkatan sambil minum air.

Selama means during or for the duration of.

In this sentence, selama transit means during the layover / during the transit period.

A few comparisons:

• selama transit = during the layover
• selama dua jam = for two hours
• selama di Jakarta = while in Jakarta

So here it introduces a time frame for the main action.

Transit is a common borrowed word in Indonesian, and it is often used just as transit.

In selama transit, it functions like a noun: during the layover / during transit.

You may also hear:

• saat transit = when in transit
• waktu transit = at the time of transit

So this use is very normal and natural.

Bandara means airport.

It is a shortened form of bandar udara, but bandara is the standard everyday word people actually use.

Examples:

• di bandara = at the airport
• bandara internasional = international airport

Itu usually means that, but after a noun it can also make the noun more definite, similar to that or sometimes the in English.

So:

• bandara = an airport / airport
• bandara itu = that airport

This is very typical Indonesian word order:

• noun + ini/itu
• rumah itu = that house
• orang itu = that person
• kota itu = that city

So bandara itu is literally that airport.

Because there are two separate location phrases:

• di bandara itu = at that airport
• di gerbang keberangkatan = at the departure gate

In Indonesian, di is a preposition meaning in / at / on, depending on context.

So the sentence says:

• during the transit at that airport
• we waited at the departure gate

Using di twice is completely normal.

This is a very common learner question.

Indonesian has two words for we:

• kami = we, but not including the listener
• kita = we, including the listener

So kami menunggu means we waited, but the person being spoken to is not part of that group.

If the speaker were including the listener, they would use kita instead.

Menunggu means to wait or to wait for.

It comes from the root tunggu.

The prefix meN- is a very common verb-forming prefix in Indonesian. It often creates an active verb.

So:

• tunggu = wait / to wait (root form)
• menunggu = to wait / waiting

In this sentence:

• kami menunggu di gerbang keberangkatan = we waited at the departure gate

You should also know that menunggu is often followed by an object:

• menunggu pesawat = wait for the plane
• menunggu teman = wait for a friend

But it can also appear without a direct object when the context is clear, as in this sentence.

Literally:

• gerbang = gate
• keberangkatan = departure

So gerbang keberangkatan = departure gate.

About keberangkatan:

• it comes from berangkat = to depart / leave
• keberangkatan is the noun departure

You may also see:

• ruang keberangkatan = departure area / departure lounge
• jadwal keberangkatan = departure schedule

Sambil means while, while doing, or sometimes by doing.

It connects two actions happening at the same time, usually done by the same subject.

Here:

• kami menunggu ... sambil minum air
• we waited ... while drinking water

So the same people, kami, are doing both actions:

1. waiting
2. drinking water

Other examples:

• Dia belajar sambil mendengarkan musik. = He/She studies while listening to music.
• Mereka berjalan sambil berbicara. = They walked while talking.

Yes—Indonesian air means water, not English air.

This is a very common false friend for English speakers.

So:

• minum air = drink water
• English air = Indonesian udara

Examples:

• air dingin = cold water
• air panas = hot water
• udara panas = hot air

Also, air in Indonesian is pronounced differently from English air.

Minum air is completely understandable and natural, and it simply means drink water.

However, in everyday Indonesian, people also often say:

• air putih = plain drinking water

So:

• minum air = drink water
• minum air putih = drink plain water

If you want to be extra clear that it is plain water and not some other liquid, air putih is common. But minum air is still fine.

Yes, Indonesian word order is somewhat flexible, especially with time phrases.

The original sentence starts with the time/background information:

• Selama transit di bandara itu, kami menunggu di gerbang keberangkatan sambil minum air.

You could also say:

• Kami menunggu di gerbang keberangkatan sambil minum air selama transit di bandara itu.

Both are understandable. The original version feels natural because it sets the scene first: during the layover at that airport...

So the fronted selama phrase gives background before the main action.

The comma is helpful because the sentence begins with a long introductory time phrase:

• Selama transit di bandara itu, ...

In writing, the comma makes the sentence easier to read. It separates the background setting from the main clause.

In casual writing, some people may omit it, but using the comma here is a good choice.

So:

• with comma = clearer, more polished
• without comma = still understandable, especially in informal writing