Traveling with Kids

10 phrases · Javanese with romanization, English and audio

  1. Wonten menu kangge lare-lare?

    Won-ten me-nu kang-ge la-re-la-re?

    Is there a menu for children?

    Usage

    Krama phrase for asking about children's menu options at a restaurant

    Grammar Note

    "Lare" (child, Krama) becomes plural "lare-lare" via reduplication. Ngoko: "bocah" → "bocah-bocah". Reduplication as a plural marker is a common Javanese grammatical feature.

  2. Wonten papan dolanan kangge lare?

    Won-ten pa-pan do-lan-an kang-ge la-re?

    Is there a playground for children?

    Usage

    Krama phrase for finding a children's play area at a mall or park

    Grammar Note

    "Dolanan" is the noun form of "dolan" (to play/hang out), using the "-an" nominalizing suffix. "Dolan" in Javanese also means "to go out" casually, making "papan dolanan" a versatile term.

  3. Lare kula nembe nangis

    La-re ku-la nem-be na-ngis

    My child is crying

    Usage

    Krama phrase to inform others that your child is crying

    Grammar Note

    "Nembe" (currently doing, Krama) marks ongoing action; Ngoko equivalent: "lagi". Ngoko version: "Bocahku lagi nangis". "Nangis" (crying) is the same in both registers.

  4. Sampun dipunparingi dhahar?

    Sam-pun di-pun-pa-ring-i dha-har?

    Has (the child) already been fed?

    Usage

    Krama phrase to check if a child has been fed. In Javanese family culture, feeding children is a priority.

    Grammar Note

    "Dipunparingi" uses the Krama passive prefix "dipun-". Ngoko equivalent: "diwei" or "dikeki" (was given). Passive voice is extremely common in Javanese daily speech.

  5. Aja adoh-adoh, Nak

    A-ja a-doh-a-doh, Nak

    Don't go too far, child

    Usage

    Ngoko phrase to warn a child not to wander too far away

    Grammar Note

    "Aja" is the Ngoko prohibitive (Krama equivalent: "sampun"). Reduplication of "adoh" (far) emphasizes "too far". "Nak" (short for "anak" — child) is an affectionate address for children.

  6. Kula mbetahaken kursi bayi

    Ku-la mbe-ta-ha-ken kur-si ba-yi

    I need a baby chair (high chair)

    Usage

    Krama phrase for requesting a high chair or baby seat at a restaurant

    Grammar Note

    "Kursi" (chair) is from Arabic "kursi", shared by Javanese and Indonesian. "Bayi" (baby) is also shared. In Javanese culture, childcare is a communal responsibility ("gotong royong" spirit).

  7. Lare kula nembe lumampah

    La-re ku-la nem-be lu-mam-pah

    My child has just started walking

    Usage

    Krama phrase to share a child's developmental milestone. Javanese culture celebrates children's growth as a community occasion.

    Grammar Note

    "Lumampah" = "lampah" (walk/manner) + infix "-um-". Ngoko: "mlaku". Javanese verb morphology with infixes and prefixes creates complex but elegant speech level distinctions.

  8. Wonten ruangan kangge nyusoni?

    Won-ten ru-ang-an kang-ge nyu-so-ni?

    Is there a nursing room (breastfeeding room)?

    Usage

    Krama phrase for finding a breastfeeding or nursing room

    Grammar Note

    "Nyusoni" = verbal form of "susu" (milk/breast) with "-ni" suffix. Indonesian public places increasingly provide "Ruang Laktasi" (lactation/nursing rooms) — look for this sign.

  9. Aja nyepeng barang iku

    A-ja nye-peng ba-rang i-ku

    Don't touch that thing

    Usage

    Ngoko phrase to tell a child not to touch something dangerous or belonging to others

    Grammar Note

    Ngoko demonstratives: "iki" (this), "iku" (that), "kono" (that over there). Krama: "menika"/"punika". "Barang" (thing/item) is shared with Indonesian and used in both registers.

  10. Wonten diskon kangge lare?

    Won-ten dis-kon kang-ge la-re?

    Is there a discount for children?

    Usage

    Krama phrase for asking about children's discounts at tourist sites or transport

    Grammar Note

    "Diskon" is the Indonesian phonetic adaptation of English "discount". Indonesian tourist attractions commonly offer children's discounts (typically for under-12s or below a certain height).

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