Addressing People in Javanese

dik = abbrev. adik, younger sibling used for addressing a young gal
jeng = polite form of dik abbrev. ajeng to address a single lady younger than you
di ajeng = younger sister
mbak = abbrev. mbakyu from simbok ayu, beautiful woman = older sister
ni mas = (no longer in use) from nini emas – golden lady
ni ken = (no longer in use) nini kenyo – lady lady (pesindens love this name)
mbok from simbok = mother
biyang = mother (crude)
ibu, bu = mother
bulik = (still in use) ibu cilik – small mother – aunt younger than your parents
bu de = (still in use) ibu gede – great mother – aunt older than your parents, sometime to address a grandmother
mbah putri = from simbah putri, grandmother
eyang putri = polite form for mbah putri
tante = Aunt, for Dutch-speaking Indonesians
zus = zusje, sister / younger sister, for Dutch-speaking Indonesians
den ajeng = raden ajeng (from low to high – a young-aged mother)
den ayu = raden ayu (from low to high – an elderly lady)
Gusti Bandoro Raden Ayu – if you are looking for a big tip, call a lady this way
ndoro jeng = abbrev. Bandoro Raden Ajeng – granddaughter of the Sultan / Sunan
Gusti Putri = Princess daughter of the Sultan
Gusti Ratu = Queen wife of the Sultan
Mbok Ratu or Nini Ratu = the Sultan addressing his queen

nduk from genduk (daughter) for a young gal
the man of the house will introduce his wife as mbokne si genduk = the mother of my daughter

mas = “gold” – to a man older than you
kang or kakang = to an older close friend
kangmas or kakangmas = polite form of the above
dik, adi = to a man or boy younger than you
dimas or adimas = “golden younger brother” – polite form to a man or boy younger than you
broer, broertje – Dutch-speaking Javanese for brother and younger brother
man or paman = “uncle” – to uncle figure
oom or om = to uncle or uncle figure for Dutch-speaking Javanese
oompye = to uncle, younger than your father
wo, siwo, wak = to uncle, older than your father
pak, bapak, bopo = “father” – freely used to anyone male older than you, or anyone having a better position than you. (Bopo is no longer used, except Bopo Adam dan Ibu Kowo – Adam and Eve, or in wayang/ketoprak dialogue)
mbah, simbah, simbah lanang, simbah kakung = grandfather
eyang, eyang kakung = polite form of grandfather
mbah buyut, simbah buyut, eyang buyut kakung = great grandfather
den or raden = the great grandson of the Sultan/Sunan. (You never lose this title, their son and grandson keep this title)
denmas or radenmas = the grandson of the Sultan and Sunan, Their children become raden
bandoro raden mas = the son of the Sultan/Sunan. Their children become radenmas. Bandoro Raden Mas become Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung when they get a position in the palace
Kanjeng Sinuwun, Sampeyan Dalem, Panjenengan Dalem = Javanese addressing the Sultan or Sunan

tole = son (the t is a hard t, like the bushman language in Africa) from kontol (male sexual organ) from father to son, opposite of genduk
bapakne si tole, is a village woman calling her husband
mbokne si tole, is a village man calling his wife (somehow mentioning her real name is taboo)
cung from kacung = little boy, errand boy (rarely used). Used a lot during Dutch government. Derogatory. Still used between really close friends

You must remember though, the ones written are from Central Java / Jogja area, not Banyumasan or Surabayan — they have another set.

Source: Eyang Kendro – KKendro [at] AOL.COM

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