Javanese phrasebook

Javanese (basa Jawa / ꦧꦱꦗꦮ) is a significant language in Central and Eastern Java, in Indonesia. For the 100 million Javanese in Indonesia, it is their mother tongue, with Indonesian as a second language with more or less an equal level of proficiency. It is so widely spoken there are many words in Indonesian that are loaned from Javanese; prospective learners who understand at least some Indonesian can pick up Javanese with a little bit of effort. It works the other way too. As new generations are schooled in Indonesian, more and more areas of life are discussed in Indonesian. Changes in the way we live our lives require new vocabulary. Much of that, relating to computers, social media, for example, is influenced by English, with Indonesian coming a way behind. Javanese seems somewhat unaffected by the language developments needed to deal with way we live our lives now. For that reason, a Javanese speaker now may pepper their speech with quite a lot of Indonesian (or English) to allow them to talk about cars, computers, the internet, and so on.

In the Javanese palaces of Yogyakarta and Surakarta, refined Javanese involves a wide range of interactive codes and sophisticated acknowledgement of social level in the usage of vocabulary. Another way to put it, status and position in relation to the person being spoken with, determines word use, and grammar.

Understand

There are at least three types of the Javanese language, which are ordered by formality. There is substantial difference in the vocabularies of each type:

Ngoko is typically used between friends, social equals and from a person of higher status to the lower status
Kromo is typically used by persons of lower social status to those of a higher status, for announcements & speeches, or to show humility
Kromo Madya, a blend of vocabulary from Ngoko and Kromo, is used between strangers whose social status is unknown but who don't want a too formal conversation

In addition to these three forms that are defined by the status of the people speaking to each other, there is also:

Kromo Inggil, a further vocabulary set that is added into the other forms when speaking to or referring to another person of very high status. Because it is used when referring to other people, it can happen that two close friends talking in low-class Ngoko (because they are social equals) about a high-status person, will replace certain key-words referring to that person, with the Kromo Inggil version. If they were speaking directly to the high-status person, they would use a mix of Kromo and Kromo Inggil.

To add to the confusion, Javanese is not strictly codified and there are significant regional variations. For example, Javanese as spoken in Surabaya has a number of differences from that in the central Java cities of Surakarta and Jogjakarta. Javanese as spoken in these two cities is considered standard, and is the version most usually taught. This phrasebook uses this version.

A very good indicator of how Javanese nuances can even be heard in a single word, the word Inggih or yes, can determine a persons status and standing, whether it sounds more gg or more jj in the pronunciation. When in a palace, if you can, without being impolite, listen to courtiers, or other people clearly of status, and hear if you can distinguish their usage, and hence identify whether they are higher or lower in status.

These levels and nuances are very real to Javanese people who will go to great lengths to make sure they are using the right level. Visitors and travellers may be sure that when attempting their first steps in Javanese, they will receive a fair hearing from their audience and not be judged too harshly if they use a word in the wrong context. They have all done it themselves at some point.

Writing

Javanese has its own writing system called Hånåcåråkå ꦲꦤꦕꦫꦏ, an Indic script related to the Thai, Lao, Khmer, Burmese, Balinese scripts, as well as the scripts of most Indian languages. Though still used in official palace documents, and sometimes seen side by side with Latin script in street signs and the names of public buildings, it has been almost totally replaced by the Latin alphabet. A traveller will almost never have to read Javanese script to get information. Makes an awesome tattoo, though.

Pronunciation guide

The guide below includes the names of the single letters. It's useful to know how to spell out your name, for example if buying tickets over the phone.

Vowels

a ah: like British English hat. See the information box on non-standard pronunciations.
e eh: either ay as in English say, or uh as in English comma (schwa). The difference is not usually shown in text. An acute accent é is used here to show the e with the ay sound.
i ih: like English pin, hit
o oh: like English hope, or English lot. Not normally differentiated in writing. Here the difference will be shown phonetically.
u oo: like English moon

Consonants

Don't worry about getting the aspirated (with a small puff of air) and retroflex (with the tongue curled up at the top of the mouth) sounds perfect, you will be understood.

b bay: like English bird
bh: aspirated, like English abhor
c say: like English chin
d day: like English dog
dh: retroflex, like English mudhut
f ef: like English fun
g gay: like English go
h hah: like English hand
j jay: like English jump
k kah: like English kill. A final k will almost always be a glottal stop, the sound of the first h in uh-oh. In the phonetic representations, this is shown as ': bapak (bapa').
kh: aspirated, like English sinkhole
l el: like English love
m em: like English me
n en: like English nose
ng: like English singer
ngg: like English finger
ny: like English canyon, like Spanish mañana
p pay: like English push
q kee: like English kill
r er: like Spanish perro
s es: like English sun
sy: like English should
t tay: like English top
th: retroflex, like English lighthouse
v vay: as in Spanish vaca, between English v and w, but without the lip rounding of an English w. (IPA: ʋ).
w way: like English win
x eks: like English six
y yay: like English yes
z zed: like 's' in English has, like 'z' in English zero

Phrase list

Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

Basics

Saying no and not Ora (OR-ah) and mboten (MBOH-tuhn) are the straightforward ways of saying no or not. But there are other ways of doing it. For a start, ora and mboten only work with verbs, adjectives and adverbs: aku ora* mlaku* (I am not walking), pitipun mboten* abrit* (the bike isn't red) or bisé ora* banter (the bus isn't fast).* If you need to negate a noun, use dudu ngoko and sanés kråmå: Iki dudu* gedhang* (This is not a banana). Punika sanés* pantun* (This is not a rice plant). Some Javanese people may be shy of the finality of no/not, choosing to say not yet, durung ngoko, déréng kråmå. So, you may hear someone saying they can't speak English say kulå déréng saged båså Inggris (I don't yet know how to speak English) regardless of whether they actually have any intention of ever trying to learn. Kurang.

Referring to others politely Honorifics are widely used in Java to refer to, or address, someone. Bapak/Pak (male) / Ibu/Bu (female) literally father/mother. For those older than ourselves or in a position of authority. Defaulting to this is usually safe. Mas (male) / Mbak (female) literally older brother/sister. Still largely in the same age group or slightly younger. Also those serving in restaurants and shops. Adhi/Dik literally younger brother/sister. Small children.

Ngoko followed by kråmå (if any). If only one version is given, it works in both ngoko and kråmå. If there are kråmå andhap or kråmå inggil terms they will be indicated by ka and ki respectively.

Though stress is indicated, it tends to be light, and there will be a general feeling of evenness across a phrase. If anywhere, stress most often falls on the second to last syllable.

Hello: Halo (HA-loh).
How are you?: Piyé kabaré? (pee-YAY ka-ba-RAY?). Kados pundi kabaripun? (KA-dos PUN-dee ka-BA-ree-pun?)
Fine, thank you: Apik-apik waé (A-pi' A-pi' WA-ay). Pangéstinipun saé (pang-est-EENEE-pun SAH-ay)
What is your name?: Jenengmu såpå? (JUH-nuhng-moo SO-po). Asmanipun panjenengan sinten? (as-MA-nee-pun pan-JUH-nuhng-an SIN-tuhn?)
My name is ______: Jenengku _____ (JUH-nuhng-koo ______). Nami kulå _____ (NA-mee koo-LO ______).
Nice to meet you: Seneng ketemu (suh-NUHNG kuh-tuh-MOO). Bingah kepanggih (BING-ah kuh-PANG-gee).
Please: Månggå (mong-GO). Used only in the 'inviting' sense: "Please sit down".
Thank you: Matur nuwun (MAH-toor noo-WOON).
Thank you very much: Matur nuwun sanget (MAH-toor noo-WOON SANG-uht).
You're welcome: Sami-sami (SAH-mee SAH-mee).
How old are you?: Umuré pirå? (OOM-oor-ay PEE-ro?). Umur panjenengan pinten, inggih? (OOM-oor pan-JUH-nuhng-ahn PIN-tuhn, IHNG-gay?).
Where are you from?: Såkå ngendi? (SO-ko NGUHN-dee?). Panjenengan saking pundi? (pan-JUH-nuhng-ahn SAH-king POON-dee?).
I am from_____.: Aku såkå _____. (AH-koo SO-ko _____). Kulå saking _____. (KOO-lo SAH-king _____.)
Where do you live?: Manggoné néng ngendi? (Mahng-GON-nay NEHNG NGUHN-dee?) Lenggahipun pundi inggih? (Luhng-GAH-ee-poon POON-dee IHNG-gay?)
I live in _____.: Aku manggon néng _____ (AH-koo MANG-gon NEHNG _____). Kulå manggén wonten _____ (KOO-lo MANG-gehn WON-tuhn_____.)
Where have you been?: Såkå ngendi? (SO-ko NGUHN-dee?). Saking pundi? (SAH-king POON-dee?).
Where are you going?: Arep lungå nyang ngendi? (AH-ruhp LOONG-o nyang NGUHN-dee?). Badhé tindak dhateng pundi? (BAH-day TIN-da' DAH-tuhng POON-dee?)
Just going for a walk: Mlaku-mlaku waé (MLAH-koo MLAH-koo WAH-ay).
I am going to_____.: Aku arep nyang _____ (AH-koo AH-ruhp nyang _____). Kulå badhé dhateng _____ (KOO-lo BAH-day DAH-tuhng _____).
Can you accompany me to...?
Can you take me to...?
What is your work?: Gawéanmu åpå? (GAH-way-an-moo O-po?). Damelipun panjenengan punåpå? (da-MUHL-ee-poon pan-juh-NUHNG-an muh-NO-po?)
What are you doing?: Lagi åpå? (LA-gee O-po). Saweg punapa, inggih? (SAH-wuhg muh-NO-po, IHNG-gay?)
Where do you go to school?: Sekolahmu ngendi? (suh-KOH-lah-moo NGUHN-dee?).
Yes: Iyå (ee-YO). Inggih (ihng-GAY). It is also usual to just repeat the relevant word (here shown in ngoko): Do you have the eggs? Have. Ånå endhogé? Ånå.
No: Ora (OR-ah). Mboten (MBOH-tuhn). As with the affirmative, a negative answer can just be the relevant word, negated (here shown in kråmå): Do you have the eggs? Not have. Punåpå penjenengan wonten tiganipun? Mboten wonten.
Don't: Åjå (O-jo). Sampun (sam-POON)
Maybe: Mbok menåwå (mbo' muh-NO-wo).
And: Lan (lahn)
But: Nanging (NANG-ing)
Or: Utawi (oo-TAH-wee)
Also: Uga (OO-ga). Ugi (OO-gee).
With: Karo (KA-roh). Kaliyan (kah-lee-YAN).
Without: Tanpa (TAN-pah).
Because: Sebab (SUH-bab).
Why: Kenåpå (kuh-NO-po).
How: Kepriyé (kuh-PREE-yay). Kadospundi (KAH-dohs-PUN-dee).
Excuse me (getting attention): Anu... (AH-noo...). Nuwun séwu (NOO-woon SAY-woo).
I'm sorry: Ma'af (ma'-AHF). Ngapunten (nga-PUN-tuhn). Nyuwun pangapunten (NYU-woon pah-nga-PUN-tuhn').
Goodbye!: Ati-ati (A-ti A-ti) (meaning take care): a frequent way of saying goodbye, especially if someone is leaving.
I can't speak Javanesese [well]: Aku ora iså båså Jåwå [sing apik] (A-koo OH-ra IH-so BO-so JO-wo [sing A-pi']). Kulå mboten saged båså Jåwå [saé] (KOO-lo MBOH-tuhn SA-guhd BO-so JO-wo [SA-ay]).
Do you speak English?: [Kowé] Iså [ngomong] båså Inggris? ([KOH-way] EE-so [NGO-mong] BO-so IHNG-rihs?). [Panjenengan] saged båså Inggris? (Pan-JUH-nuhng-an] SA-guhd BO-so IHNG-rihs?).
Is there someone here who speaks English?: Åpå ånå sing iså båså Inggris? (OP-o On-o sing EE-so BO-so ING-grihs?). Punåpå wonten ingkang saged båså Inggris? (Muh-NO-po WON-tuhn ing-KANG SA-guhd BO-so ING-grihs?).
Help!: Tulung! (TOO-loong!).
Look out!: Awas! (Ah-WAHS!).
Take care: Ati-ati (A-tee-A-tee).
Good morning: Sugeng énjang (SOO-guhng EHN-jang).
Good evening: Sugeng sonten (SOO-guhng SON-tuhn).
Good night (in the sense of sleep well): Sugeng dalu (SOO-guhng DAH-loo).

Yes, I speak/understand a little. Who is he/she? What is he/she saying? What do you mean? Please say it again. Please say it more slowly. Please write it down. Let's go! Wait! Can I speak to ...? (on the phone) One moment

How do you say ...?: Piyé carané ngomong ....? (PEE-yay CHA-ra-nay NGOH-mong...?). Pripun caranipun pitutur ....? (PRIH-poon cha-RA-nee-pun pih-TOO-TOOR...?)
What is this/that called?: Iki/iku åpå? (IH-kih/IH-kooh opo?). Niki/niku nåpå? (NIH-kih/NIH-koo no-po?)
I don't understand: [Aku] ora mudeng ([AH-koo] OR-ah moo-DUHNG). [Kulå] mboten ngertos ([KOO-lo] MBOH-tuhn NGUHR-tos).
Where is the toilet?: Wingkingé ing ngendi? (wing-KING-ay ing NGUHN-dee?). Paturasanipun wọnten pundi? (pa-too-rah-SAH-nee-poon WOHN-tuhn POON-dee?)

Problems

Police!: Polisi!
Stop! Thief!: Mandeg! Maling!
I'm lost: Aku kesasar. Kulå kesasar.
I'm sick: Kulå sakit.

Numbers

Angka	Ngoko	Kråmå
1	siji (SIH-jih)	setunggal (suh-TUNG-gahl)
2	loro (LOH-roh)	kalih (KAH-lih)
3	telu (TUH-loo)	tigå (TEE-go)
4	papat (PAH-pat)	sekawan (suh-KAH-wan)
5	limå (LIH-mo)	gangsal (GANG-sal)
6	enem (uh-NUHM)	enem (uh-NUHM)
7	pitu (PIT-oo)	pitu (PIT-oo)
8	wolu (WOL-oo)	wolu (WOL-oo)
9	sångå (SONG-oh)	sångå (SONG-oh)
10	sepuluh (suh-POO-looh)	sedåså (suh-DOH-so)
11	sewelas (SUH-wuh-las]	setunggal welas (sewelas)
12	rolas (ROH-las)	kalih welas
13	telulas (TUH-loo-las)	tiga welas
14	patbelas (PAT-buh-las)	sekawan welas
15	limålas (LEE-mo-las)	gangsal welas
16	nembelas (NUHM-buh-las)	enem welas
17	pitulas (PIH-too-las)	pitulas (PIH-too-las)
18	wolulas (WO-loo-las)	wolulas (WO-loo-las)
19	sångålas (SONG-oh-las)	sångålas (SONG-oh-las)
20	rong puluh (RONG POO-looh)	kalih dåså
21	selikur (suh-LIH-koor)	selikur/kalih dåså setunggal
22	rolikur (roh-LIH-koor)	kalih likur
23	telulikur (TUH-looh-LIH-koor)	tigang likur
24	patlikur (pat-LIH-koor)	sekawan likur
25	selawé (suh-LAH-way)	selangkung
26	nemlikur (nuhm-LIH-koor)	nemlikur
30	telung puluh (tuh-LOONG LIH-koor)	tigang dåså
31	telung puluh siji	tigang dåså setunggal
32	telung puluh loro	tigang dåså kalih
40	patang puluh	sekawan dåså
41	patang puluh siji	sekawan dåså setunggal
42	patang puluh loro	sekawan dåså kalih
50	séket	séket
51	séket siji	séket setunggal
52	séket loro	séket kalih
60	sewidak	sewidak
61	sewidak siji	sewidak setunggal
62	sewidak loro	sewidak kalih
70	pitung puluh	pitu dåså
80	wolung puluh	wolu dåså
90	sangang puluh	sanga dåså
100	satus	setunggal atus
101	satus siji	setunggal atus setunggal
102	satus loro	setunggal atus kalih
120	satus rong puluh	setunggal atus kalih dåså
121	satus selikur	setunggal atus kalih dåså setunggal
200	rong atus	kalih atus
500	limang atus	gangsal atus
1,000	séwu	setunggal éwu
1,001	séwu siji	setunggal éwu setunggal
1,002	séwu loro	setunggal èwu kalih
1.500	séwu limang atus	setunggal èwu gangsal atus
1,520	séwu limang atus rong puluh	setunggal èwu gangsal atus kalih dåså
1,550	séwu limang atus sèket	setunggal èwu gangsal atus sèket
1.551	séwu limang atus sèket siji	setunggal èwu gangsal atus sèket setunggal
2,000	rong èwu	kalih èwu
5,000	limang èwu	gangsal èwu
10,000	sepuluh èwu	sedasa èwu
100,000	satus èwu	setunggal atus èwu
500,000	limang atus èwu	gangsal atus èwu
1,000,000	sayuta	setunggal yuta
1,562,155	sayuta limang atus swidak loro èwu satus sèket lima	setunggal yuta gangsal atus sewidak kalih èwu setunggal atus sèket gangsal

Time

now: saiki (...). sapunika
later: mengko (...). mangké
before: sadurung (...). sadéréng
after: sawisé (...). sasampunipun
already: wis (...). sampun (...).
not yet: belum (buh-LEUHM). The 'u' is like the `oo' in `foot'
morning (dawn until around 11.00): esuk (...). énjang
noon/early afternoon (11.00-15.00): awan (...). siyang
late afternoon (15.00 until sunset): sore (...). sonten
night: bengi
dawn: subuh (...)
dusk: maghrib/senja

Clock time

one o'clock AM: jam siji esuk (...)
two o'clock AM: jam loro esuk (...)
noon: tengah awan (...)
one o'clock PM: jam siji awan (...)
two o'clock PM: jam loro awan (...)
midnight: tengah wengi (...)

Duration

_____ second(s): _____ detik (...)
_____ minute(s): _____ menit
_____ hour(s): _____ jam
_____ day(s): _____ dinå/ dinten
_____ week(s): _____ minggu
_____ month(s): _____ wulan
_____ year(s): _____ taun

Days

today: dinå iki (...). dinten punikå
yesterday: wingi
the day before yesterday
tomorrow: sésuk (seh-SOAK). bénjing
the day after tomorrow
three days after today
this week
last week
next week

Monday: Senén (suh-NEHN)
Tuesday: Selåså (suh-LO-so)
Wednesday: Rebo (RUH-boh)
Thursday: Kemis (KUH-mihs)
Friday: Jumawah (juh-MAH-wah)
Saturday: Setu (SUH-too)
Sunday: Minggu (MING-goo)

There is also a five-day week running concurrently with the seven-day week. The days are Pon (pon), Wagé (WAH-gay), Kliwon (klee-WON), Legi (luh-GEE) and Paing (pah-ING). The five-day cycle is still in limited use. Rural markets, especially livestock markets, may still be held on one of the days of the five-day cycle. Combining both 7- and 5-day cycles gives an overall 35-day cycle. Particular days in that cycle may be noted as being auspicious. For example, Jumat Kliwon is considered to have spiritual significance, and people may take the time on that day to visit and clean up family graves.

Months

January: Januari (jaa-noo-AH-ree)
February: Fébruari (FE-boo-AH-ree)
March: Maret (MAR-ruht)
April: April (AH-preel)
May: Méi (May)
June: Juni (JOON-nee)
July: Juli (JOOL-lee)
August: Agustus (a-GOOS-tuhs)
September: Séptémber (sep-TEHM-burr)
October: Oktober (ok-TOH-burr)
November: Nopémber (no-PEM-burr)
December: Desémber (day-SEM-burr)

Date

First one should write the day, after that the month and then the year.

August 17th 1945: 17 Agustus 1945

Colors

black: ireng
white: putih
gray: abu-abu
red: abang
blue: biru
yellow: kuning
green: ijo
orange: oranye
purple: ungu
light brown: coklat nom
dark brown: coklat tuwa

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: Pirå regané karcis menyang _____? (...) Pinten reginipun karcis dhateng _____?
I want to buy one ticket to _____, please.: Aku arep tuku siji karcis menyang _____. (...) Kulå badhé tumbas setunggal karcis dhateng _____.
Where does this train/bus go?: Kréta/bis iki menyang ngendi? (...) Kréta/bis punikå dhateng pundi?
Where is the train/bus to _____?: Ånå ngendi kréta/bis menyang _____? (...) Wonten pundi kréta/bis dhateng _____?
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: Åpå kréta/bis iki mandheg ing _____? (...)
What time does the train/bus for _____ leave?: Jam pirå kréta/bis menyang _____ mangkat? (...) Jam pinten kréta/bis dhateng _____ tindak?
What time does this train/bus arrive in _____?: Jam pira kréta/bis iki teka ing _____? (...) Jam pinten kréta/bis punikå rawuh ing _____?

Directions

How do I get to _____?: Kepriye aku menyang _____? (...) Kados pundi kula dhateng _____?
...the train station?: ...stasiun kréta? (...)
...the bus station?: ...terminal bis? (...)
...the airport?: ...bandara? (ban-DA-ra)
...downtown?: ...tengah kutha? (...)
...the _____ hotel?: ... hotél _____ ? (ho-TEL ____)
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British embassy/consulate?: ... Kedutaan Besar/Konsulat Amérika/Kanada/Australia/Inggris? (Ke-DOO-Tah-An beh-SAR/Con-SOOL-lat ...)
street: dalan (...). margi (...)
left: kiwo (...)
right: tengen (...)
straight ahead: lurus/kenceng (...)
north: lor (...) lér (...)
south: kidul (...)
east: wetan (...)
west: kulon (...) kilén (...)

Taxi

Taxi!: Taksi! (TUKS-see)

Money

Most things to do with money, such as banking, money changers, credit cards, and so on, is done in Indonesian. Being able to count money in Javanese will be useful in a traditional market or small local shop. The following phrase might come in useful:

Where is the ATM?: ATMé ngendi? (ah-tay-em-ay NGUHN-dee?). ATMipun pundi? (at-tay-em-i-poon POON-dee?)

Eating

Manners The dining table is a good place to use your understanding of Javanese manners. If you are someone's guest, do wait for them to invite you to start with månggå before tucking in. Likewise, if you have asked someone to eat with you, then they may wait for you to give them the word before starting. Månggå by itself is perfect, but you could roll out the politer Månggå dipundhahar (MONG-go dee-poon-DA-har), roughly meaning please let it be eaten. Your guests will swoon with pleasure.

Shopping

A traditional market is certainly a place where you could use Javanese. In more old-fashioned stores that still have shop assistants who follow you around, they will always open the conversation in Indonesian with Cari apa? (What are you looking for?), but you could quickly move the conversation into Javanese - asking for things in a different size, or a different colour.

Sell
Buy
Do you have this in my size?
How much is this?
Is this pirated?
May I pay _____?
(too) expensive
cheap
I don't want it.
Don't even think about it.
Can you lower the price?
The quality is not good.
I don't want that.
OK, I'll buy it.
I don't need a plastic bag: Aku ora butuh krésék (AH-koo OH-ra BOO-tooh KREH-sehk). Kulå mboten betah krésék (KOO-lo MBOH-tuhn BUH-tah KREH-sehk). Cheap, low grade plastic bags are given out liberally in shops and food outlets. Most of them end up being burned or thrown in the river, where they eventually make their way to the ocean. Please don't accept one if you really don't need it.
It's cheaper over there.
Do you ship (overseas)?
I need...
...toothpaste.
...a toothbrush.
...condoms.
...tampons.
...soap.
...shampoo.
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
...cold medicine.
...stomach medicine.
...a razor.
...an umbrella.
...postage stamps.
...batteries.
...a pen.
...English-language books.
...English-language magazines.
...an English-language newspaper.
...an English-Javanese dictionary.

Driving

Pretty much all the words related to cars and driving are in Indonesian. Road signs and directions are all in Indonesian. Javanese might be useful, though, if you are driving in a rural area and need to ask for directions.

Slowly, please, driver: ingkang alon-alon, nggih, Pak (ing-KANG AH-lon AH-lon, NG-gay, Pa').

Authority

The language of government and officialdom in Java is Indonesian. Feel free to use your politest kråmå to open the discussion and pass the time of day, though.

Learning more

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