Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Gaun biru itu cantik, tapi saya cuma memakai gaun sederhana. - That blue dress is beautiful, but I only wear a simple dress.

In Indonesian, descriptive adjectives usually follow the noun they modify. So the normal order is noun + adjective: gaun biru = “blue dress.”
You can’t say biru gaun for “blue dress.”
To say “the dress is blue,” make the adjective the predicate: Gaun itu biru.

What does itu do in gaun biru itu?

Itu is a demonstrative meaning “that,” and it also often functions like a definite article (“the”) for something known/specific. It comes after the whole noun phrase:

gaun biru itu = “that blue dress” / “the blue dress (that we both know about).”
Without itu, gaun biru is indefinite or generic (“a blue dress/blue dresses”).

Where is the verb “to be” in Gaun biru itu cantik?

Indonesian doesn’t use a copula (“to be”) before adjectives. The adjective itself works as the predicate.

Gaun biru itu cantik = “That blue dress is beautiful.”
Don’t say adalah before an adjective. Use adalah mainly before nouns: Gaun biru itu adalah favorit saya (“…is my favorite”).

What’s the difference between gaun biru itu and gaun itu biru?

gaun biru itu is a noun phrase: “that blue dress.”
Gaun itu biru is a full sentence: “That dress is blue.”

Is tapi okay here, or should it be tetapi or namun?

All mean “but/however,” but register differs:

tapi = informal, very common in speech.
tetapi = neutral/formal.
namun = “however,” more formal, often at sentence start.
Your sentence with tapi is natural in everyday use; in formal writing, use tetapi.

Does cuma mean “only”? What about hanya, saja, or doang?

Yes. Nuances:

cuma = “only/just” (colloquial).
hanya = “only” (neutral/formal).
saja = “just/only,” usually placed after what it limits.
doang = very casual slang for “only.”
Examples:
Saya hanya memakai gaun sederhana. (neutral)
Saya cuma pakai gaun sederhana. (casual)
Saya memakai gaun sederhana saja. (focus on the object)
Saya pakai gaun sederhana doang. (very casual)

Is memakai the best verb for clothing? How about pakai, mengenakan, or menggunakan?

memakai = to wear/use; perfectly natural for clothes.
pakai = the base form; common and informal: saya pakai.
mengenakan = “to wear” (a bit more formal/polite), common in news.
Avoid menggunakan for clothing; it’s “to use” (tools/devices), so it sounds odd with gaun.

How does tense work in saya cuma memakai? Is it present, past, or habitual?

Indonesian has no verb tense. Context or time adverbs show time/aspect:

Present progressive: Sekarang saya sedang memakai gaun sederhana.
Past: Tadi/kemarin saya cuma memakai gaun sederhana.
Habitual: Saya biasanya cuma memakai gaun sederhana.

Does gaun sederhana mean “a simple dress”? Do I need sebuah?

Gaun sederhana naturally means “a simple dress.” You don’t need an article.
You can add a classifier/number for clarity, but it’s optional:

sebuah gaun sederhana / satu gaun sederhana = “one simple dress.”

When should I use yang, e.g., gaun yang sederhana vs gaun sederhana?

For a single adjective, yang is usually unnecessary: gaun sederhana is normal.
Use yang to form a relative clause or add emphasis/clarity, especially with longer descriptors or superlatives:

gaun yang sederhana itu
gaun yang paling sederhana

Could I drop saya? Indonesian often omits subjects, right?

Yes, if the subject is obvious from context, you can omit it in casual speech:

… tapi cuma memakai gaun sederhana.
In careful writing or when context isn’t crystal-clear, keep saya.

Is cantik the right word for a dress? What about bagus, indah, or keren?

cantik = beautiful (common for people, clothing, designs). Great here.
bagus = good/nice (quality or approval): Gaun biru itu bagus.
indah = beautiful (aesthetic beauty, scenery/art); less common for everyday clothing.
keren = cool/stylish (informal).

How do I make the plural “dresses”? Do I need reduplication?

Plurality is often left to context. To mark it explicitly:

Reduplication: gaun-gaun = dresses.
Quantifiers: beberapa gaun (some), banyak gaun (many).
Example: Gaun-gaun biru itu cantik = “Those blue dresses are beautiful.”

Is the comma before tapi necessary?

In standard writing, a comma before a coordinating conjunction like tapi/tetapi is common when joining two clauses:

… cantik, tapi …
In informal texting, many people omit it. In formal writing, prefer …, tetapi …

How do you pronounce tricky words like gaun and cuma?

Approximate guides:

gaun = “gown” (the “au” is like English “ow”).
cuma = “CHOO-ma.”
tapi = “TAH-pee.”
memakai = “mə-MA-kai” (final “ai” like English “eye”).
sederhana = “sə-dər-HA-na.”

Can I change the position of “only” to focus on the object?

Yes. To stress that it’s only a simple dress (not something fancy), put the limiter near the object:

Saya memakai gaun sederhana saja.
Yang saya pakai cuma gaun sederhana.
Both strongly highlight “only a simple dress.”

Why is it memakai (with meN-) instead of mepakai? What’s the rule?

The prefix is meN- and it assimilates to the first consonant of the root: for roots starting with p, the p drops and the prefix surfaces as mem-.

pakai → memakai
Other examples: tulis → menulis, kirim → mengirim, sapu → menyapu.