In Javanese, there is no direct equivalent to the English definite article "the". Javanese expresses definiteness through context, word order, demonstratives (iki "this", kuwi/iku "that"), and specific particles. This fundamental difference makes understanding Javanese articles one of the first important steps for English speakers learning the language.
Definition: The English word "the" is a definite article that specifies a particular noun as something already known or uniquely identifiable. In Javanese, this definiteness is expressed through: -
Context and word order -
Demonstratives: iki (this), kuwi/iku (that), kae (that over there) -
The suffix -é/-né (indicating "the" in possessive or specific contexts) -
Word position in the sentence
FAQ: What does "the" mean in Javanese? Q: How do I say "the" in Javanese? A: There is no single word for "the" in Javanese. Instead, Javanese uses demonstratives (iki, kuwi), suffixes (-é/-né), or relies on context to indicate definiteness. For example, "the book" can be "buku" (when context is clear), "buku iki" (this book), or "bukuné" (the book/his book).
How this topic will be used in the lesson examples: This lesson presents 15 varied examples showing how English sentences containing "the" are naturally expressed in Javanese. You'll see different strategies Javanese uses to convey definiteness, including demonstratives, suffixes, and contextual clarity.
Educational Schema: -
Subject: Language Learning - Javanese for English Speakers -
Level: Beginner -
Topic: Definite Article Expression -
Learning Objective: Understanding how definiteness is expressed in Javanese -
Lesson Type: Comparative Grammar Study -
Duration: Self-paced study material
Key Takeaways: -
Javanese has no direct equivalent to English "the" -
Definiteness is expressed through demonstratives (iki, kuwi, kae) -
The suffix -é/-né can indicate specific or definite reference -
Context and word order often suffice to indicate definiteness -
Understanding this difference is crucial for natural Javanese expression
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1.1 The - sun srengéngé (sreng-éng-é) sun-the rises munggah (mung-gah) rises in ing (ing) in the - east wétan (wé-tan) east
1.2 I aku (a-ku) I saw weruh (we-ruh) saw the - teacher guru (gu-ru) teacher at ing (ing) at school sekolah (se-ko-lah) school
1.3 The - children bocah-bocah (bo-cah-bo-cah) children play dolanan (do-la-nan) play in ing (ing) in the - garden kebon (ke-bon) garden that kuwi (ku-wi) that
1.4 She dhèwèké (dhè-wè-ké) she reads maca (ma-ca) reads the - book buku (bu-ku) book this iki (i-ki) this every saben (sa-ben) every day dina (di-na) day
1.5 The - rice sega (se-ga) rice on ing (ing) on the - table méja (mé-ja) table that kuwi (ku-wi) that is - hot panas (pa-nas) hot
1.6 Where endi (en-di) where is - the - market pasar (pa-sar) market that sing (sing) that big gedhé (ge-dhé) big
1.7 The - man wong (wong) person that sing (sing) that tall dhuwur (dhu-wur) tall is kuwi (ku-wi) is my - father bapakku (ba-pak-ku) my-father
1.8 Close tutup (tu-tup) close the - door lawang (la-wang) door that kuwi (ku-wi) that please tulung (tu-lung) please
1.9 The - water banyu (ba-nyu) water in ing (ing) in the - river kali (ka-li) river flows mili (mi-li) flows fast cepet (ce-pet) fast
1.10 They wong-wong (wong-wong) people those kuwi (ku-wi) those went lunga (lung-a) went to menyang (me-nyang) to the - traditional - market peken (pe-ken) traditional-market
1.11 The - moon rembulan (rem-bu-lan) moon that sing (sing) that bright padhang (pa-dhang) bright shines sumunar (su-mu-nar) shines at ing (ing) at night wengi (weng-i) night
1.12 Give wènèhna (wè-nèh-na) give me aku (a-ku) me the - salt uyah (u-yah) salt that kuwi (ku-wi) that
1.13 The - house omah (o-mah) house his -é (-é) his is - near cedhak (ce-dhak) near the - mosque mesjid (mes-jid) mosque
1.14 She dhèwèké (dhè-wè-ké) she cooks masak (ma-sak) cooks in ing (ing) in the - kitchen pawon (pa-won) kitchen every saben (sa-ben) every morning ésuk (é-suk) morning
1.15 The - story crita (cri-ta) story that sing (sing) that you kowé (ko-wé) you told critakaké (cri-ta-ka-ké) told was - very banget (ba-nget) very interesting narik (na-rik) interesting
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1.1 Srengéngé munggah ing wétan. The sun rises in the east.
1.2 Aku weruh guru ing sekolah. I saw the teacher at school.
1.3 Bocah-bocah dolanan ing kebon kuwi. The children play in that garden.
1.4 Dhèwèké maca buku iki saben dina. She reads this book every day.
1.5 Sega ing méja kuwi panas. The rice on that table is hot.
1.6 Endi pasar sing gedhé? Where is the big market?
1.7 Wong sing dhuwur kuwi bapakku. The tall man is my father.
1.8 Tulung tutup lawang kuwi. Please close that door.
1.9 Banyu ing kali mili cepet. The water in the river flows fast.
1.10 Wong-wong kuwi lunga menyang peken. Those people went to the traditional market.
1.11 Rembulan sing padhang sumunar ing wengi. The bright moon shines at night.
1.12 Wènèhna aku uyah kuwi. Give me that salt.
1.13 Omahé cedhak mesjid. His house is near the mosque.
1.14 Dhèwèké masak ing pawon saben ésuk. She cooks in the kitchen every morning.
1.15 Crita sing kowé critakaké narik banget. The story that you told was very interesting.
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1.1 Srengéngé munggah ing wétan.
1.2 Aku weruh guru ing sekolah.
1.3 Bocah-bocah dolanan ing kebon kuwi.
1.4 Dhèwèké maca buku iki saben dina.
1.5 Sega ing méja kuwi panas.
1.6 Endi pasar sing gedhé?
1.7 Wong sing dhuwur kuwi bapakku.
1.8 Tulung tutup lawang kuwi.
1.9 Banyu ing kali mili cepet.
1.10 Wong-wong kuwi lunga menyang peken.
1.11 Rembulan sing padhang sumunar ing wengi.
1.12 Wènèhna aku uyah kuwi.
1.13 Omahé cedhak mesjid.
1.14 Dhèwèké masak ing pawon saben ésuk.
1.15 Crita sing kowé critakaké narik banget.
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Javanese does not have a definite article equivalent to English "the". Instead, Javanese uses several strategies to indicate definiteness:
1. Demonstratives as Definite Markers -
iki (this) - for objects near the speaker -
kuwi/iku (that) - for objects near the listener or at middle distance -
kae (that over there) - for objects far from both speaker and listener
Example: "the book" can be expressed as: -
buku iki (this book = the book near me) -
buku kuwi (that book = the book you're referring to)
2. The Suffix -é/-né This suffix can indicate: -
Possession: omahé (his/her house, the house) -
Specific reference: srengéngé (the sun - as there's only one) -
Topic marking: bukuné apik (the book is good)
The form -é is used after consonants: omahé (the house) The form -né is used after vowels: kumbanané (the blanket)
3. Word Order and Context Often, Javanese relies on context alone: -
Guru teka (Teacher comes = The teacher comes) -
Aku weruh kucing (I saw cat = I saw the cat)
4. The Relative Particle "sing" Used to create definite descriptions: -
wong sing dhuwur (person who tall = the tall person) -
omah sing gedhé (house which big = the big house)
Common Mistakes: -
Over-using demonstratives: English speakers often add iki/kuwi to every noun, making speech unnatural. Use them only when emphasis or clarification is needed. -
Misusing -é/-né: This suffix primarily indicates possession or very specific reference, not general definiteness. -
Word-for-word translation: Trying to translate every English "the" leads to awkward Javanese. -
Ignoring context: Javanese speakers rely heavily on context; not every definite reference needs marking.
Comparison with English: -
English: Requires "the" for all definite references -
Javanese: Uses context, demonstratives, or suffixes only when needed -
English: "The" is obligatory -
Javanese: Definiteness markers are optional and context-dependent
Step-by-Step Guide to Expressing Definiteness: -
Ask: Is the object physically present? -
If yes, consider using iki (near) or kuwi (far) -
Ask: Is it unique or previously mentioned? -
If unique (sun, moon), consider -é suffix -
If previously mentioned, context may suffice -
Ask: Do I need to distinguish it from others? -
If yes, use sing + description -
If no, unmarked form is fine -
When in doubt, use the unmarked form and let context work
Summary of Definiteness Markers: -
No marker (context): guru (teacher/the teacher) -
Demonstrative: guru iki (this teacher/the teacher) -
Suffix: gurué (his teacher/the teacher) -
Relative clause: guru sing pinter (the smart teacher) -
Position: Often first in sentence indicates definiteness
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Understanding how Javanese expresses definiteness reveals important cultural values. Javanese culture emphasizes context, relationships, and implicit understanding over explicit marking. This linguistic feature reflects the Javanese cultural preference for subtlety and indirect communication.
In Javanese society, speakers assume shared knowledge and context. The absence of obligatory definite articles means speakers must be more attuned to their conversational context and their relationship with the listener. This linguistic feature reinforces the Javanese value of "tanggap" (sensitivity to context) and "empan papan" (knowing one's place in social situations).
The use of demonstratives (iki, kuwi, kae) in Javanese often relates to social distance as well as physical distance. Using kuwi for something near your conversation partner shows respect for their space and acknowledges their perspective.
The suffix -é/-né often indicates not just definiteness but also familiarity and possession, reflecting the Javanese focus on relationships and belonging. When Javanese speakers say "omahé" (the house/his house), they're often indicating a house that belongs within their social sphere of knowledge.
For English speakers learning Javanese, adapting to this system requires developing a new sensitivity to context and an acceptance of ambiguity. This linguistic difference offers a window into Javanese thinking patterns where explicit marking is less important than contextual understanding and social harmony.
In traditional Javanese literature and formal speech, definiteness is often indicated through word order and literary conventions rather than explicit markers, showing how language use varies with social register - another important aspect of Javanese culture.
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From the Javanese chronicle "Babad Tanah Jawi" (Chronicle of the Land of Java):
In ing (ing) in ancient kuna (ku-na) ancient times jaman (ja-man) times lived ana (a-na) there-was a - king ratu (ra-tu) king in ing (ing) in land tanah (ta-nah) land Java Jawi (Ja-wi) Java. The - king sang (sang) the prabu prabu (pra-bu) king that kuwi (ku-wi) that ruled jumeneng (ju-me-neng) ruled with kanthi (kan-thi) with justice adil (a-dil) justice. The - people kawula (ka-wu-la) people his -né (-né) his lived urip (u-rip) lived in ing (ing) in peace tentrem (ten-trem) peace and lan (lan) and prosperity mulya (mul-ya) prosperity.
Ing jaman kuna ana ratu ing tanah Jawi. Sang prabu kuwi jumeneng kanthi adil. Kawulané urip ing tentrem lan mulya.
In ancient times there lived a king in the land of Java. That king ruled with justice. His people lived in peace and prosperity.
Ing jaman kuna ana ratu ing tanah Jawi. Sang prabu kuwi jumeneng kanthi adil. Kawulané urip ing tentrem lan mulya.
This passage demonstrates several ways Javanese indicates definiteness without using a direct equivalent of "the": -
"Sang prabu" - The honorific "sang" before "prabu" (king) serves a similar function to "the" in marking this as a specific, definite king. -
"kuwi" (that) - Used after "sang prabu" to further specify "that king" we just mentioned. -
"Kawulané" - The suffix -né on "kawula" (people) indicates "his people," making it definite through possession. -
Word order - "Ing jaman kuna" (in ancient times) comes first, setting the definite temporal context. -
Context - "tanah Jawi" (land of Java) needs no marker because Java is unique and well-known to readers.
The passage shows how classical Javanese literature uses honorifics (sang), demonstratives (kuwi), possessive suffixes (-né), and contextual understanding to create definite references without a definite article.
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1.16 Good - morning sugeng (su-geng) good enjing enjing (en-jing) morning, where endi (en-di) where the - vegetable janganan (jang-an-an) vegetable seller bakul (ba-kul) seller that sing (sing) that usually biasané (bi-a-sa-né) usually here kéné (ké-né) here
1.17 The - one sing (sing) that sells dodol (do-dol) sells cabbage kol (kol) cabbage and lan (lan) and spinach bayem (ba-yem) spinach moved pindah (pin-dah) moved to menyang (me-nyang) to the - corner pojok (po-jok) corner over there kana (ka-na) over-there
1.18 How much pira (pi-ra) how-much the - price regané (re-ga-né) price-the of - the - tomatoes tomat (to-mat) tomatoes this iki (i-ki) this per sak (sak) per kilogram kilo (ki-lo) kilogram
1.19 The - tomatoes tomat (to-mat) tomatoes that kuwi (ku-wi) that twenty rong (rong) two puluh puluh (pu-luh) ten thousand èwu (è-wu) thousand but ning (ning) but the - red abang (a-bang) red ones sing (sing) that really tenan (te-nan) really ripe mateng (ma-teng) ripe
1.20 I aku (a-ku) I want arep (a-rep) want to buy tuku (tu-ku) buy the - chicken pitik (pi-tik) chicken that sing (sing) that big gedhé (ge-dhé) big for kanggo (kang-go) for the - ceremony slametan (sla-me-tan) ceremony tomorrow sésuk (sé-suk) tomorrow
1.21 The - fish iwak (i-wak) fish seller bakul (ba-kul) seller that kae (ka-e) that has duwé (du-wé) has fresh seger (se-ger) fresh fish iwak (i-wak) fish from saka (sa-ka) from the - sea segara (se-ga-ra) sea
1.22 Give wènèhna (wè-nèh-na) give me aku (a-ku) me the - chili lombok (lom-bok) chili peppers - that sing (sing) that spicy pedhes (pe-dhes) spicy half setengah (se-teng-ah) half a - kilogram kilo (ki-lo) kilogram
1.23 The - price rega (re-ga) price of - the - onions brambang (bram-bang) onions today dina (di-na) day iki iki (i-ki) this went up munggah (mung-gah) went-up because merga (mer-ga) because the - rain udan (u-dan) rain yesterday wingi (wing-i) yesterday
1.24 Where endi (en-di) where can bisa (bi-sa) can I aku (a-ku) I find nemu (ne-mu) find the - seller bakul (ba-kul) seller of - the - coconuts klapa (kla-pa) coconuts young enom (e-nom) young
1.25 The - fruit woh-wohan (woh-woh-an) fruits at ing (ing) at the - stall warung (wa-rung) stall that kono (ko-no) there always mesthi (mes-thi) always fresh seger (se-ger) fresh and lan (lan) and sweet legi (le-gi) sweet
1.26 Please tulung (tu-lung) please wrap bungkus (bung-kus) wrap the - vegetables janganan (jang-an-an) vegetables these iki (i-ki) these with nganggo (ngang-go) with the - banana gedhang (ge-dhang) banana leaves godhong (go-dhong) leaves
1.27 The - lady mbak (mbak) lady who sing (sing) who sells dodol (do-dol) sells tempeh témpe (tém-pe) tempeh usually biasané (bi-a-sa-né) usually comes teka (te-ka) comes at jam (jam) hour five lima (li-ma) five in the morning ésuk (é-suk) morning
1.28 I aku (a-ku) I already wis (wis) already bought tuku (tu-ku) bought the - rice beras (be-ras) rice at ing (ing) at the - shop toko (to-ko) shop that sing (sing) that near cedhak (ce-dhak) near the - entrance gapura (ga-pu-ra) entrance
1.29 The - market pasar (pa-sar) market this iki (i-ki) this more luwih (lu-wih) more crowded rame (ra-me) crowded than tinimbang (ti-nim-bang) than the - market pasar (pa-sar) market near cedhak (ce-dhak) near my - house omahku (o-mah-ku) my-house
1.30 Don't aja (a-ja) don't forget lali (la-li) forget to bring gawa (ga-wa) bring the - basket kranjang (kran-jang) basket that sing (sing) that big gedhé (ge-dhé) big tomorrow sésuk (sé-suk) tomorrow
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1.16 Sugeng enjing, endi bakul janganan sing biasané kéné? Good morning, where is the vegetable seller that's usually here?
1.17 Sing dodol kol lan bayem pindah menyang pojok kana. The one selling cabbage and spinach moved to the corner over there.
1.18 Pira regané tomat iki sak kilo? How much is the price of these tomatoes per kilogram?
1.19 Tomat kuwi rong puluh èwu ning sing abang mateng tenan. Those tomatoes are twenty thousand but the really ripe red ones.
1.20 Aku arep tuku pitik sing gedhé kanggo slametan sésuk. I want to buy the big chicken for tomorrow's ceremony.
1.21 Bakul iwak kae duwé iwak seger saka segara. That fish seller has fresh fish from the sea.
1.22 Wènèhna aku lombok sing pedhes setengah kilo. Give me half a kilogram of the spicy chili peppers.
1.23 Rega brambang dina iki munggah merga udan wingi. The price of onions today went up because of yesterday's rain.
1.24 Endi aku bisa nemu bakul klapa enom? Where can I find the young coconut seller?
1.25 Woh-wohan ing warung kono mesthi seger lan legi. The fruits at that stall are always fresh and sweet.
1.26 Tulung bungkus janganan iki nganggo godhong gedhang. Please wrap these vegetables with banana leaves.
1.27 Mbak sing dodol témpe biasané teka jam lima ésuk. The lady who sells tempeh usually comes at five in the morning.
1.28 Aku wis tuku beras ing toko sing cedhak gapura. I already bought rice at the shop near the entrance.
1.29 Pasar iki luwih rame tinimbang pasar cedhak omahku. This market is more crowded than the market near my house.
1.30 Aja lali gawa kranjang sing gedhé sésuk. Don't forget to bring the big basket tomorrow.
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1.16 Sugeng enjing, endi bakul janganan sing biasané kéné?
1.17 Sing dodol kol lan bayem pindah menyang pojok kana.
1.18 Pira regané tomat iki sak kilo?
1.19 Tomat kuwi rong puluh èwu ning sing abang mateng tenan.
1.20 Aku arep tuku pitik sing gedhé kanggo slametan sésuk.
1.21 Bakul iwak kae duwé iwak seger saka segara.
1.22 Wènèhna aku lombok sing pedhes setengah kilo.
1.23 Rega brambang dina iki munggah merga udan wingi.
1.24 Endi aku bisa nemu bakul klapa enom?
1.25 Woh-wohan ing warung kono mesthi seger lan legi.
1.26 Tulung bungkus janganan iki nganggo godhong gedhang.
1.27 Mbak sing dodol témpe biasané teka jam lima ésuk.
1.28 Aku wis tuku beras ing toko sing cedhak gapura.
1.29 Pasar iki luwih rame tinimbang pasar cedhak omahku.
1.30 Aja lali gawa kranjang sing gedhé sésuk.
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1. Questions About Location Market conversations often begin with "endi" (where) to locate specific sellers: -
endi bakul... (where is the seller...) -
Note: No article needed before "bakul" (seller)
2. The Particle "sing" in Descriptions Very common in market talk for identifying specific items or people: -
pitik sing gedhé (the big chicken) -
lombok sing pedhes (the spicy chilies) -
mbak sing dodol témpe (the lady who sells tempeh)
3. Demonstratives in Bargaining Context -
iki (this) - for items being examined -
kuwi (that) - for items at middle distance -
kae/kono/kana (over there) - for distant stalls or sellers
4. Possessive -né for Prices Common pattern: regané (the price): -
regané pira? (what's the price?) -
Shows definiteness through possession/specification
5. Time and Place Specificity Market language uses specific markers for regular sellers: -
sing biasané kéné (that's usually here) -
mesthi (always) - implies definite knowledge
6. Common Market Phrases Without Articles -
tuku pitik (buy chicken) - context makes it definite -
dodol témpe (sell tempeh) - profession/habitual action -
ing pasar (at market) - location understood
7. Measurement Terms No articles needed with measurements: -
sak kilo (per kilogram) -
setengah kilo (half a kilogram)
Conversational Patterns: -
Greeting + location question -
Specific description using "sing" -
Price inquiry with "regané" -
Quantity specification -
Polite requests with "tulung"
This market genre shows how Javanese relies heavily on context and routine patterns rather than explicit definiteness marking in everyday transactions.
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Detailed interlinear glossing breaks down every element for beginners -
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Progressive difficulty builds confidence systematically -
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Course Structure Each lesson follows a consistent pattern: -
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Interlinear text for detailed study -
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Cultural insights -
Literary examples -
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