Directions

1. Pundi margi dhateng Kraton?

   Pun-di mar-gi dha-teng Kra-ton?

   Which way is it to the Kraton (palace)?

   Usage

   Polite Krama phrase for asking the way to the Kraton (royal palace) in Yogyakarta

   Grammar Note

   "Kraton" means "place of the king" in Javanese. There are two royal palaces: Yogyakarta Kraton and Surakarta (Solo) Kraton. Ngoko: "Neng endi dalan menyang Kraton?"

2. Kiwa, tengen, utawi lurus?

   Ki-wa, te-ngen, u-ta-wi lu-rus?

   Left, right, or straight ahead?

   Usage

   Krama phrase to confirm directions when receiving guidance

   Grammar Note

   Ngoko: "Kiwa, tengen, apa lurus?" "Lurus" (straight ahead) is the same in Ngoko and Krama. It is a different word from Krama "leres" (correct).

3. Taksih tebih napa?

   Tak-sih te-bih na-pa?

   Is it still far?

   Usage

   Krama phrase to ask how much further the destination is

   Grammar Note

   "Tebih" (far) vs "celak" (near) in Krama. Ngoko: "adoh" (far) vs "cedhak" (near). A clear example where Krama and Ngoko use entirely different vocabulary.

4. Kula kesasar

   Ku-la ke-sa-sar

   I am lost

   Usage

   Krama phrase used when you are lost and need help finding your way

   Grammar Note

   "Kesasar" = "ke-" prefix (unintentional result) + "sasar" (to stray). Expresses getting lost unintentionally. This word is the same in both Krama and Ngoko — a relatively neutral term.

5. Wonten ing sisih pundi Borobudur?

   Won-ten ing si-sih pun-di Bo-ro-bu-dur?

   Which direction is Borobudur in?

   Usage

   Krama phrase for asking the direction to Borobudur, the UNESCO World Heritage Buddhist temple

   Grammar Note

   Borobudur is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple ~40km northwest of Yogyakarta. Its name may derive from "Bara" (temple) + "Budur" (on the hill) in an archaic Javanese dialect.

6. Minggah utawi mandhap?

   Ming-gah u-ta-wi man-dhap?

   Going up or going down?

   Usage

   Krama phrase to clarify uphill or downhill direction in hilly or mountainous areas

   Grammar Note

   Java's volcanic landscape (Mt. Merapi, etc.) makes "up/down" directional terms daily necessities. Ngoko: "munggah" (up), "mudhun" (down).

7. Sapinten tebihipun saking mriki?

   Sa-pin-ten te-bih-i-pun sa-king mri-ki?

   How far is it from here?

   Usage

   Krama phrase for asking the specific distance to a destination from the current location

   Grammar Note

   "Saking" (from) is the Krama preposition of origin; Ngoko: "saka". "Mriki" (here, Krama) vs "kene" (here, Ngoko). Distance: approximate answer "kira-kira X kilometer" (about X km).

8. Mangga mlebet, kula dherekaken

   Mang-ga mle-bet, ku-la dhe-re-ka-ken

   Please come in, I will guide you

   Usage

   Classic Krama phrase a Javanese host uses to welcome and guide a visitor

   Grammar Note

   "Mangga" is the Krama invitation word (Ngoko: "ayo"). It represents Javanese refined hospitality ("tata krama") — the cultural emphasis on courtesy and welcoming others.

9. Lajeng ngaler, lajeng ngetan

   La-jeng nga-ler, la-jeng nge-tan

   First go north, then go east

   Usage

   Direction-giving using Javanese compass points. Javanese culture uses cardinal directions (N/S/E/W) in everyday navigation.

   Grammar Note

   Javanese compass points: aler (north), kidul (south), wetan (east), kulon (west). Adding "ng-" prefix creates directional verbs: "ngaler" (go north), "ngidul" (go south).

10. Pundi panggenan becak?

    Pun-di pang-ge-nan be-cak?

    Where is the becak (pedicab) stand?

    Usage

    Used to find a becak (pedicab) stand, a traditional Javanese three-wheeled cycle rickshaw common in Yogyakarta

    Grammar Note

    "Becak" is a traditional Javanese/Indonesian cycle rickshaw, especially common around Yogyakarta's tourist areas. Ngoko: "Neng endi panggonan becak?"

11. Tengen

    Te-ngen

    Right

    Usage

    A single word the driver can read at a glance while moving

12. Kiwa

    Ki-wa

    Left

    Usage

    A single word the driver can read at a glance while moving

13. Lurus

    Lu-rus

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Show it to say keep going without turning

14. Bali

    Ba-li

    Go back / Turn around

    Usage

    For asking a driver to turn back; spelled like the island of Bali but a different word, so add a hand gesture if there is any risk of confusion

15. Mandheg

    Man-dheg

    Stop

    Usage

    Show it where you want to get out — it works when your voice does not carry

16. Lor

    North

    Usage

    Javanese directions lean on the compass; in Yogyakarta, north means toward Mount Merapi

17. Kidul

    Ki-dul

    South

    Usage

    In Yogyakarta, south means toward the sea; "Kidul" appears in many addresses and shop names

18. Wetan

    We-tan

    East

    Usage

    Also handy for matching what someone tells you when they say "go east"

19. Kulon

    Ku-lon

    West

    Usage

    Common in place names too, e.g. Kulon Progo (West Progo)

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