……
Breakdown of Baju itu luntur jika dicuci dengan air panas.
air
the water
itu
that
dengan
with
jika
if
panas
hot
dicuci
to wash
baju
the shirt
luntur
to fade
Questions & Answers about Baju itu luntur jika dicuci dengan air panas.
What does luntur mean in this sentence?
Luntur means to fade or lose color — here it indicates that the shirt’s color comes off or bleeds out.
Is luntur a verb or an adjective here?
In Malay, adjectives function like stative verbs. So luntur is treated as a verb (a stative verb) meaning “to fade.”
Why is dicuci used instead of cuci?
Dicuci is the passive form of cuci (wash), created by adding the prefix di-. It means “is washed,” focusing on the action done to the shirt rather than who washes it.
What function does dengan serve in dicuci dengan air panas?
Dengan means with or using, introducing the means or instrument. So dicuci dengan air panas translates as “washed with hot water.”
Could we say kalau instead of jika here?
Yes. Both jika and kalau mean if. Jika is more formal or literary, while kalau is common in everyday speech.
Why is itu placed after baju instead of before it?
In Malay, demonstratives (ini, itu) follow the noun they modify. Baju itu means “that shirt.” Putting itu first would sound unnatural or change the meaning.
Why isn’t there a future marker like akan before luntur?
Malay often omits future markers for general truths or habitual outcomes. Even without akan, luntur implies that the shirt will fade under those conditions.
Could we say air yang panas instead of air panas?
You can, but air panas is more concise. The relative pronoun yang is optional when the adjective is clear, so native speakers usually drop it in simple descriptions.
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Malay grammar?”
Malay grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning MalayMaster Malay — from Baju itu luntur jika dicuci dengan air panas to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions