Javanese

American  

[jav-uh-neez, -nees, jah-vuh-] / ˌdʒæv əˈniz, -ˈnis, ˌdʒɑ və- /

adjective

1. of or relating to the island of Java, its people, or their language.

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noun

1. a member of the native Malayan people of Java, especially of that branch of it in the central part of the island.

2. the Austronesian language of central Java.

Javanese British  

/ ˌdʒɑːvəˈniːz /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Java, its people, or the Javanese language

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Java

2. a Malayo-Polynesian language of Central and Eastern Java

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• Javanese
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Javanese

1695–1705; Javan ( Jav(a) + -an ) + -ese

Example Sentences

In particular, they studied the 'bonang', an instrument from the Javanese gamelan built from a collection of small gongs.

From Science Daily • Feb. 27, 2024

Yogyakarta is an ancient center of Javanese culture and the seat of royal dynasties going back centuries.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 30, 2023

On Wednesday, he is to travel to Yogyakarta, a city also on the island of Java that is the center of Javanese culture and the seat of royal dynasties going back centuries.

From Washington Times • Jun. 19, 2023

Then at 11 p.m., the security forces suddenly started firing tear gas at a steady clip into the stands, said Mr. Joshua, who like many Javanese does not use a family name.

From New York Times • Oct. 2, 2022

After their divorce, Ann went on to marry a Javanese geologist named Lolo Soetoro and moved to Jakarta, bringing along the junior Barack Obama—my Barack Obama—who was then six years old.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama