When something is not clean, we say kotor. This word is an adjective, so it describes a noun. You can use it to talk about dirty clothes, a dirty room, or anything that needs cleaning. It's a very common and useful word for beginners.
When something is dirty in Indonesian, we use the word kotor. This is an adjective, so it describes a noun. For example, a dirty shirt would be kemeja kotor.
You can also use kotor to talk about things that are unclean in a more general sense, like dirty water or a dirty room. It's a very common and useful word to know.
§ What 'kotor' means and when to use it
The Indonesian word for 'dirty' is kotor. It's an adjective, which means it describes a noun. You'll hear and use this word a lot in daily conversations, so it's a good one to learn early.
- Definition
- Dirty.
Just like in English, 'kotor' can describe many things. Think about anything that can get dirty – your hands, clothes, a room, a car, or even something abstract like a reputation. In Indonesian, 'kotor' works for all of these.
Tangan saya kotor setelah berkebun. (My hands are dirty after gardening.)
Bajunya sangat kotor. (His/Her clothes are very dirty.)
You'll use 'kotor' in everyday situations when you need to describe something that needs cleaning or is unhygienic. For instance:
- When you see a stained floor: "Lantai ini kotor." (This floor is dirty.)
- When your shoes are muddy: "Sepatu saya kotor." (My shoes are dirty.)
- When a child's face is messy after eating: "Wajah anak itu kotor." (That child's face is dirty.)
It's straightforward. Just place 'kotor' after the noun it describes, or after a linking verb like 'adalah' (is/are), though often 'adalah' is omitted in casual Indonesian.
Meja ini kotor, tolong bersihkan. (This table is dirty, please clean it.)
Mengapa piringnya masih kotor? (Why are the plates still dirty?)
'Kotor' can also be used figuratively, especially when talking about things like reputations or intentions.
Namanya sudah kotor karena skandal itu. (His/Her name is already dirty because of that scandal.)
Here, 'kotor' refers to a tarnished reputation, not physical dirt. This is a more advanced usage, but it shows the versatility of the word.
In summary, 'kotor' is your go-to word for anything that isn't clean. It's a fundamental adjective that you'll use constantly in Indonesian. Pay attention to how native speakers use it in different contexts, and don't be afraid to try using it yourself!
How Formal Is It?
"Pakaian dinas polisi itu terlihat kotor setelah bertugas di lokasi kejadian."
"Jangan sentuh, tanganmu kotor."
"Ih, jorok banget, bajunya kotor semua."
"Ups, bukumu kotor kena tanah!"
"Motornya kotor parah, belum dicuci seminggu."
يُخلط عادةً مع
'Bersih' is the direct opposite of 'kotor,' meaning clean.
'Rapih' means tidy or neat. While a tidy place is often clean, 'rapih' focuses on orderliness, whereas 'kotor' focuses on the presence of dirt.
'Wangi' means fragrant or smelling good. While a clean thing can be fragrant, 'wangi' describes smell, not the presence or absence of dirt.
سهل الخلط
'Kotoran' is often confused with 'kotor' because of the similar root word. However, 'kotoran' refers to dirt, filth, or feces, which are nouns, while 'kotor' is an adjective meaning dirty.
'Kotor' describes something as dirty. 'Kotoran' is the actual dirt or excrement.
Ada kotoran di lantai. (There is dirt on the floor.)
'Jorok' also means dirty, but it carries a stronger connotation of being unhygienic, disgusting, or slovenly. 'Kotor' is a more general term for dirty.
'Kotor' is generally dirty. 'Jorok' implies a lack of hygiene or being repulsive due to dirtiness.
Kebiasaan makannya jorok. (His eating habits are unhygienic/disgusting.)
'Cemar' means polluted or stained, and while related to dirtiness, it's more specific to environmental pollution or a moral stain. 'Kotor' is a broader term for physical dirt.
'Kotor' is generally dirty. 'Cemar' often refers to pollution (e.g., air, water) or a tarnished reputation.
Udara di kota ini sudah tercemar. (The air in this city is already polluted.)
'Kumuh' describes something as squalid, shabby, or dilapidated, often referring to places. While such places are typically dirty, 'kumuh' emphasizes the overall poor condition rather than just the presence of dirt, which 'kotor' focuses on.
'Kotor' is dirty. 'Kumuh' describes a run-down or squalid condition, often including dirtiness as a component.
Banyak pemukiman kumuh di pinggir kota. (There are many squalid settlements on the outskirts of the city.)
'Dekil' refers to something being grimy, often with ingrained dirt or stains, especially on skin or clothes. 'Kotor' is a more general term for dirty.
'Kotor' is generally dirty. 'Dekil' implies a deeper, more ingrained griminess.
Tangannya dekil setelah seharian berkebun. (His hands were grimy after a day of gardening.)
احفظها
وسيلة تذكّر
Think of a 'cot' that is so 'kotor' (dirty) that you wouldn't want to sleep on it.
ربط بصري
Imagine a big, fluffy white cat rolling around in a mud puddle. When it comes out, it's completely 'kotor' (dirty).
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Describe five things around you right now that are 'kotor' or could become 'kotor' in Indonesian. For example, 'Meja ini kotor.' (This table is dirty.)
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةWhile both mean 'dirty,' 'kotor' generally refers to something being physically unclean (e.g., a dirty shirt). 'Jorok' often implies a deeper sense of uncleanliness, bordering on disgusting, and can also describe habits or people (e.g., someone who is messy or unhygienic). For example, 'Baju itu kotor' (That shirt is dirty) vs. 'Dia jorok sekali, tidak pernah membersihkan kamarnya' (He's very unhygienic/messy, never cleans his room).
Yes, 'kotor' can be used metaphorically. For 'dirty thoughts,' you might say 'pikiran kotor'. It can also describe a dirty deed or a corrupt action, like 'perbuatan kotor'.
To express 'very dirty,' you can add intensifiers. Common ones are 'sangat kotor' (very dirty), 'kotor sekali' (dirty very/extremely dirty), or 'kotor sekali'. For example, 'Lantai ini sangat kotor' (This floor is very dirty) or 'Tanganku kotor sekali' (My hands are extremely dirty).
The most common opposite of 'kotor' is 'bersih', which means 'clean.' For example, 'Bajuku kotor' (My shirt is dirty) vs. 'Bajuku bersih' (My shirt is clean).
To say 'to make something dirty,' you can use the prefix 'meng-' with 'kotor' to form the verb 'mengotori'. For example, 'Jangan mengotori lantai!' (Don't make the floor dirty!) or 'Dia mengotori mejanya dengan tinta' (He dirtied his table with ink).
No, 'kotor' is generally not used to describe weather. For 'bad weather,' you would say 'cuaca buruk'. 'Kotor' is more about physical grime or moral impurity.
Yes, 'kotor' almost always carries a negative connotation, referring to something that is unclean, unhygienic, or morally impure. There's no positive or neutral sense of 'kotor'.
To ask 'Is it dirty?', you can say 'Apakah itu kotor?' or more simply, 'Kotor, ya?' (Dirty, right?). For example, 'Apakah sepatuku kotor?' (Are my shoes dirty?) or 'Bajunya kotor, ya?' (His shirt is dirty, right?).
Yes, 'dirty water' is indeed 'air kotor'. This is a very common and direct translation. For example, 'Jangan minum air kotor itu!' (Don't drink that dirty water!).
Yes, 'kotor' can be used for a dirty joke. You would say 'lelucon kotor' or 'humor kotor'. For example, 'Dia suka menceritakan lelucon kotor' (He likes to tell dirty jokes).
اختبر نفسك 12 أسئلة
What is dirty after playing in the mud?
Why shouldn't you touch the table?
Who made the floor dirty?
Read this aloud:
Mengapa sepatumu kotor sekali?
Focus: ko-tor se-ka-li
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
Pakaian ini kotor dan harus dicuci.
Focus: pa-kai-an i-ni ko-tor
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Meja itu kotor, tolong bersihkan.
Focus: me-ja i-tu ko-tor
قلت:
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Pilihlah kalimat yang paling tepat menggunakan kata 'kotor' dalam konteks yang berbeda.
Pilihan ini adalah penggunaan 'kotor' yang paling literal dan umum, merujuk pada kondisi fisik suatu benda. Pilihan lain menggunakan 'kotor' secara metaforis atau idiomatik, yang tidak selalu tepat dalam semua konteks.
Manakah di antara kalimat berikut yang tidak menggunakan 'kotor' secara harfiah?
Pilihan ini menggunakan 'kotor' secara metaforis untuk menggambarkan reputasi yang buruk atau tidak jujur, bukan kondisi fisik yang kotor. Pilihan lain menggunakan 'kotor' dalam arti harfiah.
Jika seseorang mengatakan 'Ini pekerjaan yang kotor,' apa yang mungkin mereka maksud?
Frasa 'pekerjaan kotor' seringkali mengacu pada pekerjaan yang secara moral meragukan, tidak etis, atau bahkan ilegal, bukan hanya pekerjaan yang secara fisik membuat kotor.
Menggunakan 'kotor' untuk menggambarkan 'niat buruk' adalah penggunaan yang umum dalam bahasa Indonesia.
Betul. Frasa seperti 'niat kotor' atau 'hati kotor' sering digunakan untuk menggambarkan maksud atau perasaan yang tidak baik.
Jika baju Anda terkena noda, Anda akan mengatakan 'baju saya bersih'.
Salah. Jika baju Anda terkena noda, Anda akan mengatakan 'baju saya kotor', karena 'kotor' berarti 'dirty' dan 'bersih' berarti 'clean'.
Dalam konteks lingkungan, 'kotor' selalu merujuk pada polusi fisik.
Salah. Meskipun sering merujuk pada polusi fisik, 'kotor' juga bisa digunakan secara metaforis untuk menggambarkan korupsi atau praktik tidak bersih lainnya dalam konteks lingkungan atau tata kelola.
/ 12 correct
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