Language/Javanese/Grammar/Questions

Javanese Grammar - Questions

Hi Javanese learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about questions in Javanese grammar. As you know, asking questions is an essential part of daily conversations, and mastering this aspect of Javanese grammar will help you communicate better with native speakers.

Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Gender, Pronouns & Questions and Negations.

Types of Questions

In Javanese, there are several types of questions, including yes/no questions and open-ended questions. Yes/no questions can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no", while open-ended questions require longer and more detailed answers.

Here are a few examples of each type:

Yes/No Questions

These questions require a simple "yes" or "no" answer.

Javanese	Pronunciation	English
Apa iki buku?	['apa iki buku]	Is this a book?
Nggih, iki buku.	['ŋgiʔ, iki buku]	Yes, this is a book.
Ora, iki botol.	['ora, iki botol]	No, this is a bottle.

Open-Ended Questions

These questions require a more detailed answer.

Javanese	Pronunciation	English
Piye kabare?	['pijɛ kabarɛ]	How are you?
Aku apik-apik.	[a'ku 'apik-'apik]	I'm fine.
Sregep ana apa-apa?	['srɛɡɛp 'ana 'apa-'apa]	What do you do in your free time?
Aku biasane main musik.	[a'ku 'biasanɛ 'main 'musik]	I usually play music.

As you can see, open-ended questions require more complex answers, which can be a useful way to learn more about other people's interests and lives.

Question Words

Javanese, like many other languages, has specific words used to form questions. These words are called "question words". Here are some common question words in Javanese:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English
Apa	['apa]	What
Siapa	['siapa]	Who
Mengko	['mɛŋko]	Where
Kenapa	['kɛnapa]	Why
Sing endi	['siŋ 'ɛn̪di]	Which one
Sak kono	['saʔ 'kono]	How much

These words are essential to form open-ended questions and allow you to obtain more information about the topic of conversation.

Question Formation

In Javanese, questions can be formed in different ways. The most common method is to add the word "apa" (what) at the beginning of the sentence. For example:

• Apa iki buku? (Is this a book?)

Another method is to add the word "opo" (what) at the end of the sentence to create a yes/no question. For instance:

• Iki buku opo? (Is this a book?)

In Javanese, you can also form a question using "si" before the verb. For example:

• Si nampa aku? (Did you see me?)

If you are asking a question containing a question word, then the question word usually comes at the beginning of the sentence. Here are some examples:

• Sing endi iki? (Which one is this?)
• Mengko kowe mangan? (Where are you eating?)
• Kenapa kowe lukito? (Why are you crying?)

By using these question words and sentence structures, you can form a wide range of questions, from simple yes/no questions to more complex ones.

Practice Makes Perfect

Now that you have learned about the different types of questions in Javanese, it's time to practice! You can create your own questions, or you can find a language partner on Polyglot Club. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Here's a dialogue to practice:

• Person 1: Nggeh, kowe arep mangan? (Are you going to eat?)
• Person 2: Aku arep mangan nasi goreng. (I'm going to eat fried rice.)
• Person 1: Nasi goreng di mana? (Where is the fried rice?)
• Person 2: Nasi goreng sak toko sebrang. (The fried rice is across the street.)

With practice, you'll become more comfortable asking and answering questions in Javanese!

Sources

• Javanese Grammar | LEARN101.ORG
• Javanese language - Wikipedia
• Learn Javanese - Grammar and Vocabulary

---

➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Other Lessons

• Future Tense
• Pronouns
• Conditional Mood
• Adjectives
• Nouns
• Gender
• How to Use Be
• Plurals
• Give your Opinion