Body Parts

34 phrases · Javanese with romanization, English and audio

  1. Awak

    Body

    Usage

    The whole body. "Awakku lara" means "my body hurts" — for when you cannot localize it

  2. Sirah

    Head

    Usage

    The ngoko form. Speaking of an elder's head, Javanese switches to the krama inggil "mustaka"

  3. Rambut

    Hair

    Usage

    The ngoko form, for the barber or salon. The krama word is "rikma"

  4. Rai

    Face

    Usage

    The native Javanese word, not Indonesian "wajah/muka". For an elder, use "pasuryan"

  5. Mripat

    Eye

    Usage

    The native Javanese word, not Indonesian "mata". "Mripatku lara" means "my eye hurts"

  6. Kuping

    Ear

    Usage

    The ear — point at it when your ears hurt on take-off or landing

  7. Irung

    Nose

    Usage

    The Javanese form, not Indonesian "hidung". Show it at the pharmacy for a blocked nose

  8. Cangkem

    Mouth

    Usage

    The ngoko form, which sounds blunt. Use the krama "tutuk" when being polite with elders

  9. Untu

    Tooth

    Usage

    The Javanese form, not Indonesian "gigi". Point at the aching tooth at the dentist

  10. Ilat

    Tongue

    Usage

    The Javanese form, not Indonesian "lidah" — useful when spicy food has burned your tongue

  11. Gulu

    Neck

    Usage

    The outside of the neck. For pain when swallowing, point at the throat (tenggorokan)

  12. Pundhak

    Shoulder

    Usage

    The shoulder — for telling a Javanese masseur (tukang pijet) where to work

  13. Lengen

    Arm

    Usage

    From shoulder to wrist. Javanese distinguishes the arm (lengen) from the hand (tangan)

  14. Sikut

    Elbow

    Usage

    The elbow — point at it after a scrape from a scooter fall

  15. Tangan

    Hand

    Usage

    The hand. In Java it is polite to give and receive with the right hand

  16. Driji

    Finger

    Usage

    Used for fingers and toes. A toe is "driji sikil"

  17. Kuku

    Nail

    Usage

    The nail — for a broken nail or a visit to a nail salon

  18. Dhadha

    Chest

    Usage

    The chest. Chest pain or breathlessness is urgent — show this and see a doctor at once

  19. Weteng

    Belly / stomach

    Usage

    Javanese uses one word for the belly and the stomach. "Wetengku lara" means "my stomach hurts"

  20. Geger

    Back

    Usage

    The back — the word you will use most at a massage

  21. Bangkekan

    Waist / lower back

    Usage

    The waist — what aches after a long train ride or a day on a scooter

  22. Bokong

    Buttocks

    Usage

    The word to use in a medical setting. Best avoided in casual conversation

  23. Pupu

    Thigh

    Usage

    The Javanese form, not Indonesian "paha"

  24. Dhengkul

    Knee

    Usage

    Easy to hurt on the steps at Borobudur and Prambanan, or climbing Mount Bromo

  25. Sikil

    Foot / leg

    Usage

    Covers both the foot and the whole leg. Use pupu when you mean the thigh specifically

  26. Polok

    Ankle

    Usage

    The ankle bone — point at it when you have sprained it

  27. Kulit

    Skin

    Usage

    For sunburn, bites and rashes. "Abang-abang ing kulit" is a skin rash

  28. Balung

    Bone

    Usage

    The Javanese form, not Indonesian "tulang". "Balung tugel" means a broken bone

  29. Getih

    Blood

    Usage

    The Javanese form, not Indonesian "darah". "Metu getihe" means it is bleeding

  30. Jantung

    Heart

    Usage

    The organ. "Lara jantung" is heart disease — show it when declaring a condition

  31. Usus

    Intestines

    Usage

    The intestines — for telling a doctor where the trouble is when diarrhoea persists

  32. Paru-paru

    Lungs

    Usage

    The lungs — show it together with asma (asthma) when declaring a condition

  33. Ati

    Liver

    Usage

    The Javanese form, not Indonesian "hati". Like Indonesian it doubles as "heart" in metaphor — "ati-ati" means "be careful"

  34. Ginjel

    Kidney

    Usage

    The Javanese form. It differs from Indonesian "ginjal" by one letter — switch if this does not land

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