Learn Javanese Through Topics You Actually Care About

LingoBear creates short Javanese passages on topics you choose. Tap any word for an instant English translation and build your vocabulary as you read. Austronesian language of central and eastern Java, written in Latin and the indigenous Aksara Jawa script, three speech levels (ngoko, madya, krama), ~82M speakers.

Tap any word for instant translation

Every word in your Javanese reading passage is clickable. Get English translations and grammar help — useful for navigating Javanese's politeness registers.

Read about topics you choose

Type any topic and LingoBear generates a fresh Javanese reading passage — from gamelan to street life in Surabaya.

What is Javanese and where is it spoken?

Javanese (Basa Jawa) is the Austronesian language of central and eastern Java, with around 82 million speakers — among the most spoken non-official languages in the world. It is not the national language of Indonesia (that role belongs to Indonesian) but is used in everyday life, traditional arts and regional government across Java. It also has a large diaspora in Suriname and New Caledonia.

What are Javanese speech levels?

Javanese uses an elaborate system of speech levels (unggah-ungguh), with at least three registers: ngoko for close friends and inferiors, madya for neutral exchanges, and krama for polite or formal contexts. Words are often replaced wholesale between registers (mangan/nedha/dhahar all mean 'eat'). Choosing the right level is essential, and getting it wrong can be a significant faux pas.