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The stimulation provided by the depth and breadth and size of Indonesia can overwhelm the senses. A sensible way to ease this pressure would be to navigate around the many languages you may encounter.

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 facets can bewilder the uninitiated.

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.

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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.

Javanese, an incomplete (but useful) list:

English Basa Jowo

Basics Dhasar

Hello Halo

How are you? Piya kabar?

Fine Nggoleki

Please / Excuse me, etc (getting attention) Monggo 

Excuse me (going past someone) Amit / Nuwon sewoo / Sepurane

Help me Njalok tolong

Thank you Matur suwon

You’re welcome Podo podo / Sami sami

Yes Ya wis 

No Ora

No problem Ora popo

Goodbye Pamit

Good morning Sugeng enjing

Good afternoon Sugeng sonten (11am to 3pm) / Sugeng siang (3pm to 6pm)

Good evening / night Sugeng dalu

See you later Sampai ketemu

What’s your name? Cenangmu sapa?

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

Where are you from? Teko endi?

From there Teko kene

Where Ndek endi

I’m from (Dili) Aku saka (Dili)

What’s the score? Skor apa?

I like your nose Aku seneng irumgmu

Okay Apik apik wae

Up to you Sak karepmu

Javanese people are beautiful Wong Jowo ayu ayu

Crazy Edan

Beautiful Ayu

Smile Mesem

Person Wong

A little Sithik

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Directions Pituduh

North Lor

South Kidul

East Wetan

West Kulon

Where are you going? Arep menyang ngendi?

I don’t know Wes eroh

I want to go to…  Aku arep menyang

Where is (the temple)? Ngendi (candi)?

This way Ajeng ting mriku

(Over) there (Ing) ana

(Over) here (Ing) kene

Walking Mlaku mlaku

Slowly Alon alon

Stop Mandheg

Turn around Mbalik

Straight on Terus maju

Left Ngiwa

Right Nengen

Behind Mburi

In front of Ing ngarepe

In between Ing antarane

How far? Cara adoh?

How long? Suwene?

Airport Bandara

Hotel Hotel

Restaurant Restoran

Bar Bar

Temple Candi

Bank Bank

Cinema Wayang

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Shopping / Transactions Belanja / Transaksi

How much? Piye?

How many? Pira?

Cheap Murah

Expensive Larang

Very (cheap) Banget (murah)

Do you have (a room)? Sampeyan duwe kamar?

I want / would like (a room), please Monggo, aku pengin kamar

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

Eat / Drink Maem / Ngombe

Hungry Luwe

Thirsty Ngombe / Ngelak

Chicken Pitik

Fish Iwak

Rice Beras

Noodles Mie

Soup Sup

Milk Susu

Coffee Kopi

Sugar Gula

Salt Garam

Water Banyu

Beer Bir

Fruit Woh

Vegetables Sayuran

Cigarettes Rokok

Lighter Cocog

(A) room Kamar

Ticket Tiket

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Time Wektu

Now Saiki

Later Mengko

Before Sadurunge

After Sawise

Morning Esuk

Afternoon Sonten (11am to 3pm) / Siang (3pm to 6pm)

Evening / Night Dalu / Wengi

What time? Jam pira?

What is the time? Apa wektu?

Minute Menit

Hour Jam

Week Minggu

Month Wulan

Year Taun

Day Dina

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

Monday Senen

Tuesday Selasa

Wednesday Rebo

Thursday Kemis

Friday Jumat

Saturday Sabtu

Sunday Dino minggu

Rainy season Mangsa udan

Dry season Mangsa kemarau

Sunrise Surya munggah

Sunset Surup

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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

(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.)