Figure it out. Say it. Remember it.

Learning Javanese: a practical guide

This is a written companion to the free Javanese course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.

What Javanese is like

Javanese word order is simple: subject + verb + object. There are no verb tenses — time words like sesuk (tomorrow) and dina iki (today) do that work, and nouns have no gender or plural endings. The big rule is register: use ngoko (informal) with friends, family and children, and krama (polite) with elders, strangers and people of higher status. In krama, aku (I) becomes kula and kowe (you) becomes panjenengan.

Words you may already know

Pronunciation notes

Javanese is written in the Latin alphabet and is mostly phonetic, but a few letters differ from English. Learn these and you can read almost any word aloud.

• c — "ch" as in church, as in catur = CHAH-toor.
• j — "j" as in jump, as in Jawa = JAH-wah.
• ng — one nasal sound, as in "siNGer", as in sugeng = SOO-geng.
• ny — like Spanish ñ, "ny" in canyon, as in banyu = BAH-nyoo.
• dh — "d" with the tongue curled back, as in gedhe = GEH-dheh.
• th — "t" with the tongue curled back, as in bathik = BAH-tik.
• e — often a soft "uh" (schwa), as in sega = seh-GAH.
• u — "oo" as in too, as in tulung = TOO-loong.

First phrases

The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.

How the Javanese course is structured

The course has 12 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:

1. Greetings & being polite — sugeng enjing · halo · matur nuwun · mangga
2. Numbers 1–10 — siji · loro · telu · sepuluh
3. I want" — aku pengin — aku pengin · kula · badhe
4. Food & drink — banyu · sega · roti · kopi
5. Getting around — ing endi · tengen · kiwa · lurus
6. Questions & "do you have…?" — kepiye · apa · sapa · pira
7. Family & people — kulawarga · ibu · bapak · kanca
8. Time, days & weather — dina iki · sesuk · cuaca
9. Name & small talk — jenengku · sapa jenengmu · sugeng tepang
10. Health & emergency — tulung · dokter · apotek · aku ora ngerti
11. Describing things — apik · gedhe · cilik · banget
12. Tying it together — greetings · ordering · a capstone scene

Inside the lessons

Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.

Greetings & being polite

Key pieces: sugeng enjing · halo · matur nuwun · mangga

Let's start with the word you'll say most in Java: sugeng enjing — good morning. Say it out loud.

• Sugeng enjing (SOO-geng EN-jing) — good morning
• Sugeng siang (SOO-geng see-AHNG) — good day
• Sugeng dalu (SOO-geng DAH-loo) — good evening / night
• Halo (HAH-loh) — hello
• Matur nuwun (MAH-toor NOO-woon) — thank you
• Mangga (MAHNG-gah) — please / go ahead

To say “Hello, thank you” in Javanese: Halo, matur nuwun (HAH-loh, MAH-toor NOO-woon). Built from halo = hello; matur nuwun = thank you.

The two politeness words: mangga (please / go ahead) and matur nuwun (thank you).

To say “Please, thank you” in Javanese: Mangga, matur nuwun (MAHNG-gah, MAH-toor NOO-woon). Built from mangga = please; matur nuwun = thank you.

To ask how someone is: Kepiye kabare? (informal). The reply is apik, matur nuwun — fine, thanks.

• Kepiye kabare? (keh-PEE-yeh kah-BAH-reh) — How are you?
• Apik, matur nuwun (AH-pik, MAH-toor NOO-woon) — Fine, thanks
• Ora apa-apa (OH-rah AH-pah AH-pah) — Not bad / no problem

To say “Hi, how are you?” in Javanese: Halo, kepiye kabare? (HAH-loh, keh-PEE-yeh kah-BAH-reh). Built from halo = hi; kepiye kabare? = how are you?.

Numbers 1–10

Key pieces: siji · loro · telu · sepuluh

Numbers are the fastest win. Listen and repeat: siji, loro, telu .

• siji (SEE-jee) — 1
• loro (LOH-roh) — 2
• telu (TEH-loo) — 3
• papat (PAH-paht) — 4
• lima (LEE-mah) — 5 Memory hook: ≈ Indonesian lima.
• enem (EH-num) — 6
• pitu (PEE-too) — 7
• wolu (WOH-loo) — 8
• sanga (SAHNG-ah) — 9
• sepuluh (seh-POO-looh) — 10

To say “Two coffees, please” in Javanese: Loro kopi, mangga (LOH-roh KOH-pee, MAHNG-gah). Built from loro = two; kopi = coffee; mangga = please.

To ask the price: Pira? = how much? A key phrase for shopping.

To say “How much is it?” in Javanese: Pira iki? (PEE-rah EE-kee). Built from pira = how much; iki = this.

To say “It's five thousand” in Javanese: Lima ewu (LEE-mah EH-woo). Built from lima = five; ewu = thousand.

I want" — aku pengin

Key pieces: aku pengin · kula · badhe

The magic phrase to order anything: aku pengin — I want (informal).

• aku (AH-koo) — I / me
• pengin (peh-NGEEN) — to want
• kula (KOO-lah) — I (formal / krama)
• badhe (BAH-dheh) — to want (formal / krama)

To say “I want coffee” in Javanese: Aku pengin kopi (AH-koo peh-NGEEN KOH-pee). Built from aku = I; pengin = want; kopi = coffee.

In polite speech (krama) the same idea is kula badhe — I would like.

To say “I'd like water, please” in Javanese: Kula badhe banyu, mangga (KOO-lah BAH-dheh BAH-nyoo, MAHNG-gah). Built from kula = I (formal); badhe = would like; banyu = water; mangga = please.

To say “I want rice” in Javanese: Aku pengin sega (AH-koo peh-NGEEN seh-GAH). Built from aku = I; pengin = want; sega = rice.

Food & drink

Key pieces: banyu · sega · roti · kopi

Eating time. Key words: banyu (water), sega (rice), kopi (coffee).

• banyu (BAH-nyoo) — water
• sega (seh-GAH) — rice
• roti (ROH-tee) — bread Memory hook: ≈ Indonesian roti.
• kopi (KOH-pee) — coffee Memory hook: ≈ Indonesian kopi.
• teh (teh) — tea Memory hook: ≈ Indonesian teh.
• panganan (pah-NGAH-nahn) — food
• wedang (weh-DAHNG) — drink

To say “I want water and bread” in Javanese: Aku pengin banyu lan roti (AH-koo peh-NGEEN BAH-nyoo lahn ROH-tee). Built from aku pengin = I want; banyu = water; lan = and; roti = bread.

In polite mode, toya is the formal word for water.

To say “I want coffee and tea” in Javanese: Aku pengin kopi lan teh (AH-koo peh-NGEEN KOH-pee lahn teh). Built from aku pengin = I want; kopi = coffee; lan = and; teh = tea.

To say “Delicious!” in Javanese: Enak tenan! (eh-NAHK teh-NAHN). Built from enak = delicious; tenan = really.

Getting around

Key pieces: ing endi · tengen · kiwa · lurus

The most useful question in any town: Ing endi…? — where is…?

• Ing endi...? (ing EN-dee) — Where is...?
• tengen (teh-NGEN) — to the right
• kiwa (KEE-wah) — to the left
• lurus (LOO-roos) — straight ahead
• stasiun (stah-SEE-oon) — the station Memory hook: ≈ Indonesian stasiun.
• WC (weh-SEH) — the bathroom

To say “Where is the station?” in Javanese: Ing endi stasiun? (ing EN-dee stah-SEE-oon). Built from ing endi = where is; stasiun = the station.

To say “Where is the bathroom?” in Javanese: Ing endi WC? (ing EN-dee weh-SEH). Built from ing endi = where is; WC = bathroom.

Tengen and kiwa tell you which way to turn. 'Straight ahead' is lurus .

To say “Straight ahead” in Javanese: Lurus (LOO-roos). Built from lurus = straight ahead.

Questions & "do you have…?"

Key pieces: kepiye · apa · sapa · pira

Question words: apa (what), sapa (who), kepiye (how), pira (how much).

• apa (AH-pah) — what / is it?
• sapa (SAH-pah) — who
• kepiye (keh-PEE-yeh) — how
• pira (PEE-rah) — how much
• ngapa (ngah-PAH) — why

To say “What is this?” in Javanese: Apa iki? (AH-pah EE-kee). Built from apa = what; iki = this.

To say “How much is it?” in Javanese: Pira iki? (PEE-rah EE-kee). Built from pira = how much; iki = this.

In polite register, pinten is how much and menapa is what/how.

To say “Is there wifi?” in Javanese: Ana wifi ta? (AH-nah wee-fee tah). Built from ana = is there; wifi = wifi; ta = question particle.

Family & people

Key pieces: kulawarga · ibu · bapak · kanca

Family words: kulawarga (family), ibu (mother), bapak (father).

• kulawarga (koo-lah-WAHR-gah) — family
• ibu (EE-boo) — mother Memory hook: ≈ Indonesian ibu.
• bapak (BAH-pahk) — father Memory hook: ≈ Indonesian bapak.
• kanca (KAHN-chah) — friend Memory hook: ≈ Indonesian kawan.
• anak (AH-nahk) — child

To say “I have a family” in Javanese: Aku duwe kulawarga (AH-koo DOO-weh koo-lah-WAHR-gah). Built from aku = I; duwe = have; kulawarga = family.

Duwe = to have. It's the key verb to say what you've got.

To say “I have a friend” in Javanese: Aku duwe kanca (AH-koo DOO-weh KAHN-chah). Built from aku = I; duwe = have; kanca = friend.

Time, days & weather

Key pieces: dina iki · sesuk · cuaca

Today is dina iki , tomorrow is sesuk .

• dina (DEE-nah) — day
• dina iki (DEE-nah EE-kee) — today
• sesuk (seh-SOOK) — tomorrow
• esuk (eh-SOOK) — morning
• bengi (beh-NGEE) — night
• cuaca (choo-AH-chah) — weather Memory hook: ≈ Indonesian cuaca.

To say “See you tomorrow” in Javanese: Sesuk ketemu (seh-SOOK keh-TEH-moo). Built from sesuk = tomorrow; ketemu = meet / see you.

To ask about the weather: Kepiye cuacane?

To say “It's raining” in Javanese: Udan (OO-dahn). Built from udan = it rains.

Name & small talk

Key pieces: jenengku · sapa jenengmu · sugeng tepang

Introduce yourself: Jenengku… = my name is…, and sugeng tepang = pleased to meet you.

To say “My name is Alex” in Javanese: Jenengku Alex (jeh-NENG-koo Alex). Built from jenengku = my name is; Alex = your name.

To ask someone's name: Sapa jenengmu?

To say “What's your name?” in Javanese: Sapa jenengmu? (SAH-pah jeh-NENG-moo). Built from sapa = who; jenengmu = your name.

To say “Pleased to meet you” in Javanese: Sugeng tepang (SOO-geng teh-PAHNG). Built from sugeng = good / happy; tepang = to meet.

Health & emergency

Key pieces: tulung · dokter · apotek · aku ora ngerti

The most important words if you need help: tulung (help), dokter (doctor), apotek (pharmacy).

• Tulung! (TOO-loong) — Help!
• dokter (DOHK-tehr) — the doctor Memory hook: ≈ Indonesian dokter.
• apotek (AH-poh-tek) — the pharmacy Memory hook: ≈ Indonesian apotek.
• Aku ora ngerti (AH-koo OH-rah ngehr-TEE) — I don't understand

To say “Help!” in Javanese: Tulung! (TOO-loong). Built from tulung = help / please.

To say “I don't understand” in Javanese: Aku ora ngerti (AH-koo OH-rah ngehr-TEE). Built from aku = I; ora = not; ngerti = understand.

To say you need help: Aku butuh tulung .

To say “I need help” in Javanese: Aku butuh tulung (AH-koo BOO-tooh TOO-loong). Built from aku = I; butuh = need; tulung = help.

Describing things

Key pieces: apik · gedhe · cilik · banget

Adjectives are easy: apik (good/nice), gedhe (big), cilik (small).

• apik (AH-pik) — good / nice
• gedhe (GEH-dheh) — big
• cilik (CHEE-lik) — small
• banget (BAHNG-eht) — very / a lot

To say “Very good” in Javanese: Apik banget (AH-pik BAHNG-eht). Built from apik = good; banget = very.

To say “A big coffee” in Javanese: Kopi gedhe (KOH-pee GEH-dheh). Built from kopi = coffee; gedhe = big.

Tying it together

Key pieces: greetings · ordering · a capstone scene

Great — you've built a real toolbox. This capstone uses only words you've met. Build each line yourself before revealing.

To say “Hello, how are you?” in Javanese: Halo, kepiye kabare? (HAH-loh, keh-PEE-yeh kah-BAH-reh). Built from halo = hi; kepiye kabare? = how are you?.

To say “I want coffee, please” in Javanese: Aku pengin kopi, mangga (AH-koo peh-NGEEN KOH-pee, MAHNG-gah). Built from aku pengin = I want; kopi = coffee; mangga = please.

To say “Where is the station?” in Javanese: Ing endi stasiun? (ing EN-dee stah-SEE-oon). Built from ing endi = where is; stasiun = the station.

To say “How much is it?” in Javanese: Pira iki? (PEE-rah EE-kee). Built from pira = how much; iki = this.

Common mistakes and things to watch out for

• kula (KOO-lah): formal / krama.
• badhe (BAH-dheh): formal / krama.

Culture and etiquette

Two levels of Javanese

Javanese has an informal form (ngoko) and a polite form (krama). Ngoko is for friends, family and children; krama is for elders, strangers and people of higher status. Mixing them up is the most common beginner slip — but people will gently correct you.

Register shows respect

The quickest way to sound polite is to swap the pronoun: aku (I) becomes kula in krama, and kowe (you) becomes panjenengan. To give directions, the formal word for 'go' is tindak; for 'eat', it's dhahar instead of mangan. When unsure, lean polite.

Ngopi at the warung

A warung is a small family-run stall, and ngopi (drinking coffee) is a daily ritual. Strong black coffee is the classic order. Warungs are great, friendly places to practise your Javanese — and the coffee is cheap.

Rice is at the centre

Rice — sega (ngoko) or sekul (krama) — anchors almost every meal. Greeting someone and asking whether they've eaten is a warm, common way to say hello in Java.

Always greet

Javanese place great value on courtesy. A sugeng enjing in the morning and a matur nuwun whenever you're given something go a long way. People brighten up when visitors try their language.

Close to Indonesian

Javanese and Indonesian/Malay share a lot of vocabulary: lima (five), ibu (mother), bapak (father), kopi, teh, pasar, stasiun. If you know any Indonesian or Malay you have a head start — but the ngoko/krama register is uniquely Javanese.

Example dialogues

At a warung

Transport & directions

At a restaurant

Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.