Questions & Answers about Aku ngidam pecel; kita patungan, ya.
Is Aku ngidam pecel; kita patungan, ya. formal or casual?
It is casual / conversational Indonesian.
Clues:
- aku = informal I
- ngidam = colloquial form
- ya at the end softens the sentence in a friendly way
- patungan is very common in everyday speech
You would use this with friends, family, a partner, or people you are close to. It would sound too casual in a formal setting.
Why is it ngidam and not mengidam?
Ngidam is a colloquial shortened form of mengidam.
In everyday spoken Indonesian, especially informal speech, people often reduce meN- verbs:
- mengidam → ngidam
- menonton → nonton
- mengobrol → ngobrol
So ngidam is very natural in speech and texting, while mengidam sounds more standard or formal.
What exactly does ngidam mean?
Ngidam means to crave something strongly, especially food.
It often suggests a more intense, sudden, or specific craving than just wanting something.
For example:
- Aku mau pecel = I want pecel.
- Aku ngidam pecel = I’m really craving pecel.
A learner should also know that ngidam/mengidam is often associated with pregnancy cravings, but in everyday speech people also use it casually for ordinary cravings.