Mašina za pranje veša je pokvarena.

Yes. Mašina is a feminine noun in Serbian, and many feminine nouns end in -a.

Because it is feminine, words that describe it also need to be feminine. That is why the adjective is pokvarena, not pokvaren or pokvareno.

• pokvaren = masculine
• pokvarena = feminine
• pokvareno = neuter

So mašina ... je pokvarena shows normal gender agreement.

It literally means for washing.

• za = for
• pranje = washing

So mašina za pranje veša is literally machine for washing laundry.

This is a very common Serbian way to name objects by function:

• četka za zube = toothbrush, literally brush for teeth
• mašina za sudove = dishwasher, literally machine for dishes
• aparat za kafu = coffee machine, literally device for coffee

Because after pranje in this phrase, Serbian uses the genitive case: pranje veša = washing of laundry.

The basic form is:

• veš = laundry

But here it becomes:

• veša = of laundry

So:

• mašina za pranje veša = machine for washing laundry

This kind of structure is very common in Serbian with verbal nouns like pranje.

Grammatically, veš is usually treated as a singular mass noun, much like English laundry.

So even though it refers to many clothes, the word itself is not normally plural in this meaning.

Compare:

• veš = laundry
• English laundry also behaves like a singular mass noun

That is why Serbian says pranje veša, not something that directly matches English clothes.

Je is the 3rd person singular present form of the verb biti = to be.

So:

• je = is

The structure is:

• Mašina za pranje veša = the washing machine
• je = is
• pokvarena = broken

In standard Serbian, this je is normally stated in a sentence like this.

Pokvaren/pokvarena/pokvareno is a very common word for something that is out of order, not working, broken down.

For machines and appliances, it is often the most natural choice.

Examples:

• Auto je pokvaren. = The car is broken.
• Frižider je pokvaren. = The fridge is broken.
• Mašina je pokvarena. = The machine is broken.

A different word like slomljen/slomljena usually suggests something is physically broken/snapped/cracked, not just malfunctioning. So for a washing machine, pokvarena is more natural.

Yes. Veš mašina is also very common in everyday speech and means washing machine.

So these are both used:

• mašina za pranje veša = more explicit, literally machine for washing laundry
• veš mašina = shorter everyday form

Both are correct. The longer form sounds a bit more formal or descriptive, while veš mašina is very common in normal conversation.

Yes, Serbian word order is more flexible than English, although not every version sounds equally natural in every context.

The neutral order here is:

• Mašina za pranje veša je pokvarena.

You could also move things for emphasis, for example:

• Pokvarena je mašina za pranje veša. = It’s the washing machine that is broken.
• Mašina za pranje veša pokvarena je. = possible, but more marked or stylistic

For a learner, the original order is the best default.

Serbian does not have articles like a and the, so context decides.

So Mašina za pranje veša je pokvarena could mean:

• The washing machine is broken
• A washing machine is broken

In real life, this sentence will usually be understood from context. Very often, in a normal household situation, English would naturally translate it as The washing machine is broken.

Pranje comes from the verb prati = to wash.

It is a verbal noun, meaning washing.

So:

• prati = to wash
• pranje = washing

This pattern is useful to recognize in Serbian. Many verbs can form similar nouns.

So in za pranje veša, you are literally seeing a noun phrase meaning for the washing of laundry.

In Serbian, when you say that something is something or is in some state, the descriptive word often comes after the verb:

• Mašina je pokvarena. = The machine is broken.
• Kuća je velika. = The house is big.
• Voda je hladna. = The water is cold.

This is very normal Serbian sentence structure. The adjective agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case.

You negate je by using nije:

• Mašina za pranje veša nije pokvarena. = The washing machine is not broken.

So:

• je = is
• nije = is not

This is the standard way to make the sentence negative.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

MA-shee-na za PRA-nye VE-sha ye po-KVA-re-na

A few helpful notes:

• š sounds like English sh
• nj in pranje sounds like the ny in canyon
• j is like English y
• veša sounds roughly like VE-sha

You do not need to pronounce every word with heavy stress like in English. Serbian rhythm is usually more even.