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Indonesia is a colossal country, home to many thousands of islands, of which Java is the largest. Likewise, the archipelago has a huge number of dialects, tongues and lingos; at the last count, over 700. And the most widely spoken regional language is Javanese, which shares the same sense of scale and sway as its mother island.

A quick scan of Indonesia would reveal that the archipelago’s many regions possess intricate strands of culture and tradition that give them each a distinct personality. Sumatra, beholden to tropics and lakes; Bali, [redacted]; Lombok, where water holds sway; Sumba, a place of reverence for ancestors; Sumbawa, the obscure heart; Flores, the way to the afterlife; Kalimantan, with an interior whose rainforests slowly dwindle; Sulawesi, shaped like a spider; Maluku, whose spices once captivated the world; West Papua, a region beset by tumult; West Timor, that exists on the periphery.

And whilst it may suit the reader to further study each area’s character, one simple truth remains: holding these disparate places together is Java, the spine of Indonesia. Those who hold power in the island’s cities plot the archipelago’s development, and the region’s active volcanoes brood with the threat of catastrophe. 

There is much that Java can teach a well-intentioned visitor; they can find such stories elsewhere. But these good intentions also require effort. The pulmonary system of Java is charged by many veins of heritage and wisdom, and the motivation of these things can bewilder the uninitiated.

Formal and informal Javanese / Bahasa Jowo

Experience suggests it is best to engage with one’s surroundings at such times. And where better to begin than by learning the prevailing language or dialect? So doing, the visitor acquires a key that weakens the communication barrier and unlocks a treasure chest of magic words; a well-deployed burst of Javanese, such as matur suwon or mlaku mlaku, can elicit looks of shock and surprise from people of that place, who may feel compelled to further hear what else the speaker knows. Engagement may ensue as a result, which, in turn, opens doors for the curious, respectful outsider. 

Such engagement, however, can prove tricky: visitors may not have much time, or they may lack an aptitude for language, or they may prefer to keep their own counsel and not position themselves at the absolute centre of proceedings. But if one has a chance to strengthen their feel for a place, it is often a chance worth taking.

Categories

Javanese / Bahasa Jowo falls into four categories:

• Ngoko [casual, low tone] is the direct, informal type. Friends, social equals and family members of the same age tend to use it, as would someone of higher status speaking to a person of lower status. Ngoko is simple and relaxed, but it can come across as glib or rude if used to elders or strangers
• Kromo [high, polite tone] is more formal and refined. It lacks the directness of ngoko, and its use conveys respect and humility when talking to older people, strangers or in formal settings, such as giving a speech
• Kromo Madya [middle tone] blends ngoko and kromo, polite and casual. It’s often used by strangers who don’t know the other’s status and don’t want to seem too formal
• Krama Inggil/Krama Andhap [very high tone] comes into play when talking or referring to a person of very high status. It is a sign of total respect, used when talking to venerated folk such as royal personages, revered elders and high-ranking officials. This type has a specific vocabulary, which EitM totally failed to learn on any level

The complexity does not end there, however. Bahasa Jowo has many regional variants, where the Surabaya version differs from Surakarta/Solo Javanese, which in turn diverges from the type spoken in Yogyakarta, and so on. Magnify these differences across Java, and it soon becomes apparent that the language resembles an intricate spiderweb, with strands that connect and divide at a dizzying rate.

Variations

Standard

• The basis of modern Javanese, developed at the courts of Yogyakarta and Surakarta/Solo

Central [Jawa Tengah]

• Used throughout the eastern side of Jawa Tengah, the Special Region of Yogyakarta, and the western and southern part of East Java
• *deep breath* Yogyakarta, Surakarta/Solo, Madiun, Ponorogo, Ngawi, Magetan, Pacitan, Tulungagung, Trenggalek, Tegal, Pemalang, Pekalongan, Semarang, Banyumas, Cilacap, Purwokerto, Kebumen, Salatiga, Grobogan, Demak, Kendal, Klaten, Karanganyar, Wonogiri, Sukoharjo, Sragen, Boyolali, Magelang, Temanggung, Kebumen, Magelang, Wonosobo, Jepara, Rembang, Kudus, Pati, Tuban, Bojonegoro, Blora, Grobogan, Ngawi, Kediri, Blitar, Nganjuk

Western [Jawa Kulon]

• Used in the western part of Jawa Tengah and across Jawa Kulon and Banten province
• *deeper breath* Serang, Cilegon, Tangerang, Cirebon, Indramayu, Losari, Tegal, Brebes, Pemalang, Banyumas, Cilacap, Purbalingga, Banjarnegara, Bumiayu

Eastern [Jawa Wétan]

• Used from Banyuwangi to Jombang and the eastern banks of Kertosono’s Sungai Brantas
• *pass out through lack of oxygen* Areken dialect: Surabaya, Malang, Gresik, Mojokerto, Pasuruan, Lumajang, Jember, Lamongan, Sidoarjo; Pasisir Lor Wétan/Suraya dialect: Surabaya, Sidoarjo, Gresik, Mojokerto Lamongan; Malang-Pasuruhan dialect: Malang, Pasuruan; Lumajangan dialect: Lumajang, Jember, Kencong, Jombang, Umbulsari, Gumukmas, Jombang; Gresik dialect: Gresik; Tengger dialect: Pasuruan, Probolinggo, Malang, Lumajang; Osing/Blambangan dialect: Banyuwangi

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Read more: The story of how Sumatra’s Lake Toba got its name.

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Thus, allow EitM to provide a pro-tip: for a crash course in Javanese language learning, find a place on the back row of a public bus in the centre or east of the island. There, await the conductor, from whom passengers may buy a ticket. This individual, upon spotting an outsider, may well take an interest in the fresh face and strike up a conversation. Depending on the sensibilities of the conductor, they might become protective of the newcomer, as a teacher would a student, and wish to share a piece of Java to ease their passage; and language is as good a thing as any to share.

If such a scenario unfolds, watch for the reverence with which this new wellspring of information behaves: they will handle notebooks and writing implements with respect, and they shall patiently guide the willing learner through the complications of voicing unfamiliar terms. 

This guide was gathered using such an approach, and whilst it may look, sound, feel and be incomplete, it is also genuine: shout out to Raza on the bus from Semarang to Salatiga, and the jahal Arema FC fan, on the Blitar-Tulungagung route, who bore the appearance of a hooligan and the patience and understanding of a saint. Both went above and beyond to help a stranger feel comfortable in new surroundings, and both offered invaluable input in compiling this guide. They may never read this, but to them EitM says simply: thank you, fellas.

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Javanese / Bahasa Jowo, an incomplete (but useful) glossary

English Bahasa Jowo

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Basics Dhasar

Hello Dhewe

Goodbye Dadah (informal) / Sugeng tindak (formal)

Good morning Sugeng enjing

Good afternoon Sugeng siang (11am – 3pm) / Sugeng sonteng (3pm – 7pm)

Good evening Sugeng ndalu

See you later Sampai ketemu

Yes Iya (informal) / Nggih (formal)

No Ora (informal) / mboten (formal)

How are you? Piye kabareh? (informal) / Pripun kabaripun? (formal)

I Aku

You Koweh

He / She / It / Them Dhewekeh

What is your name? Cenengmu sapa?

My name is (Tom) Namine sinten njenenkin (Tom)

Where are you from? Teko endi?

From there Teko kene

I am from (Dili) Aku saka (Dili)

Thank you Matur suwon

No problem Podo podo / Sami sami / Ora popo / Ora popa

OK Apik apik wae

Sorry / Excuse me Sepurane

Excuse me (seeking help – similar to ‘permisi’) Amit / Nuwon sewoo

Help me Njalok tolong

Why? Ngapa?

When? Kapan?

What? Opo?

Who? Sapa?

How? Kepriye?

How much? Pinten?

Don’t know Wes eroh

Up to you Sak karepmu

Please Monggo

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Directions Pituduh

Where is… Ing endi…

Where? Ndek endi?

(Over) there (Ning) ana

(Over) here (Ning) kene

In between Ing antarane

In front of Ing ngarepe

Behind Mburi

Stop Mandheg

Forwards Maju

Backwards Mundur

Turn around Nguripake

Left Ngiwa

Right Kanan

Keep going Terus maju

How far? Sepira adohe?

How long? Suwene?

Walking (similar to ‘jalan jalan’) Mlaku mlaku

Where are you going? Jendingan tindak pundi?

This way Ajeng ting mriku

Slowly Alon alon

North Lor

South Kidul

East Wétan

West Kulon

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Food / Drink / Miscellaneous Pangan / Ngombe / Macem-macem

Eat / Drink Maem / Ngombe

Eat (formal) Dhahar

Hungry Luwe

Thirsty Ngombe / Ngelak

I want… Aku pengin…

Water Banyu

Milk Susu

Coffee Kopi

Chicken Pitik

Lamb Domba

Beef Daging sapi

Pork Daging babi

Duck Bebek / Itik

Fish Iwak

Crackers Krupuk

Cigarettes Rokok

Lighter Cocog

Fruit Woh

Vegetables Sayuran

How much? Piye?

How many? Pira?

Cheap Murah

Expensive Larang

Very (cheap) Banget (murah)

Do you have (…)? Sampeyan duwe (…)?

Bald Gundul

Tall Dhuwur

Thunder Guntur

Wind Angin

Storm Prahara

Four elements Papat unsur

Wait Ngenteni

Crazy Eden

I like your nose Aku seneng irungmu

A little Sithik

Smile Mesem

Beautiful Ayu

People / Person Wong

Javanese people are beautiful Wong Jowo ayu ayu

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Time Wektu

What is the time? Apa wektu?

What time? Jam pira?

When do we leave? Nalika kita mangkat?

When do we arrive? Kapan kita teka?

Second Detik

Hour Jam

Day Dina

Week Minggu

Month Wulan

Year Taun

Decade Dasawarsa

Century Abad

Today Dina iki

Yesterday Wingi

Tomorrow Sesuk

This (week) Iki (minggu)

Last (week) Pungkasan (minggu)

Next (week) Sabanjuré (minggu)

Weekend Akhir minggu

Someday Ing sawijining dina

Rainy season Mangsa udan

Dry season Mangsa kemarau

Sunrise Surya munggah

Sunset Surup

Later Mengko

Before Sadurunge

After Sawise

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Numbers Angka

0 Nul

1 Stungal

2 Kalay

3 Tikur

4 Sakawan

5 Kansal

6 Enem

7 Pitu

8 Waloo

9 Sangga

10 Sedasa

11 Satunggal welas

12 Kalihwelas

13 Tigangwelas

14 Sekawanwelas

15 Gangsalwelas

16 Nembelas

17 Pitulas

18 Wolulas

19 Sangalas

20 Kalihdasa

30 Tigangdasa

40 Patangdasa

50 Setunggalléket

60 Nemdasa

70 Pitungdasa

80 Wolongdasa

90 Sangangdasa

100 Satus

Hundred Satus

Thousand Ewu

Million Yuta

How old are you? Pira umurmu?

I’m (30) years old Aku (telung puluh) taun

2026 update: These are the krama form of numbers, which means they’re formal, for use with elders and strangers. Since everyone we met on Java was technically a stranger, and strangers taught us these numbers, it made sense to employ the polite form. There’s a more informal variant known as ngkoko, the numbers of which we didn’t learn but would probably use around people we knew a bit more, context permitting.

(NB: As always, EITM wields only the illusion of authority. If this list proves useful, then great. But if you’re serious about learning Javanese, consult a proper teacher or dictionary. Better yet, just wander around Java and pick it up like we did.)