Mašina za pranje veša ne greje vodu.

The washing machine does not heat the water.

Breakdown of Mašina za pranje veša ne greje vodu.

• voda: water
• ne: not
• mašina za pranje veša: washing machine
• grejati: to heat

Questions & Answers about Mašina za pranje veša ne greje vodu.

What does mašina za pranje veša literally mean, and is it a normal way to say washing machine?

Literally, it means machine for washing laundry.

Yes, this is a normal and clear Serbian expression. You may also hear:

• veš-mašina
• mašina za veš

But mašina za pranje veša is perfectly natural and a bit more explicit.

Why is za pranje used here?

Za means for, and here it shows purpose:

• mašina = machine
• za pranje = for washing

The word pranje is a verbal noun, made from the verb prati = to wash.

So the structure is basically:

• mašina za pranje... = a machine for washing...

What case is pranje in after za?

After za in this kind of meaning, Serbian uses the accusative.

So pranje here is accusative singular. But because pranje is a neuter noun, its nominative and accusative forms are the same:

• nominative: pranje
• accusative: pranje

So the form does not change.