50 Kinship Terms in Javanese Society
In Javanese society, a close and structured kinship system is recognised. Each family relationship has distinct terms or designations.
These kinship terms arise from the Javanese people’s attitude of upholding values of politeness and respect towards others. For them, using these terms serves as a form of respect for family and relatives.
From lineage to marriage bonds, Javanese people refer to them with a variety of terms. For a more complete overview, here is a list of Javanese kinship terms compiled from the book Jelajah Jawa Tengah: Tata Nilai dan Adat Istiadat Jawa Tengah by Bungsu Ratih Puspitarini and the book Baboning Pepak Basa Jawa by Budi Anwari.
Kinship Terms Based on Lineage
Wong tuwo: parents, namely father and mother.
Embah: parents of father or mother.
Buyut: parents of embah (grandfather or grandmother).
Canggah: buyut from father or mother or child of buyut.
Wareng: parents of buyut from father or mother.
Udheg-udheg: parents of wareng.
Gantung siwur: parents of udheg-udheg or embah of wareng.
Grepak senthe: parents of gantung siwur or embah of udheg-udheg.
Debog bosok: parents of grepak senthe.
Galih asem: parents of debog bosok.
Putu: grandchild or child of child.
Anak: child of parents.
Kinship Terms in Sibling Bonds
Pembarep: first child.
Panggulu: second child.
Pandhadha: third child.
Sumendhi: child after the third and before the last child.
Wuragil: youngest child.
Kinship Terms in Forms of Address and Brotherhood
Simbah/mbah/pak tuwa/kaki/mbah kakung/eyang kakung: father’s or mother’s male parent.
Simbah/mbah/mbok tuwa/nini/mbah putri/eyang putri: father’s or mother’s female parent.
Ibu/simbok/biyung/simak/mamak: female parent.
Bapak/ramak/rama: male parent.
Adhi/dhik/thole/le: younger male sibling.
Adhi/dhik/gendhuk/nduk/dhenok: younger female sibling.
Mas/kakang mas/kang mas/kang: older male sibling.
Mbak/mabkyu/mbak ayu/yu/yune: older female sibling.
Pak gedhe/pakdhe/siwa kakung/uwa: older male sibling from father or mother.
Mbok gedhe/mbokdhe/siwa putri: older female sibling from father or mother.
Paklik/pak cilik/lik/paman: younger male sibling from father or mother.
Mbok cilik/bulik/lik/bibi: younger female sibling from father or mother.
Keponakan: child of older sibling.
Prunan: child of younger sibling.
Nak sanak/nak ndulur: cousin from father’s or mother’s male or female sibling.
Misan: grandchild of uwa, paman, and bibi or third generation.
Mindhoan: child of sibling’s child or relative from the same buyut.
Putu keponakan: child of nephew/niece.
Putu mantu: spouse of putu.
Sadulur: siblings of father and mother.
Sadulur asu: maternal half-sibling (same mother, different father).
Sadulur kuwalon: paternal half-sibling (same father, different mother).
Tunggal banyu: siblings from the same grandmother or grandfather or same lineage.
Tunggal welat: full siblings.
Kinship Terms Bound by Marriage
Bojo: husband or wife.
Sing wedok: wife regarded as husband’s younger sister.
Sing lanang: husband regarded as wife’s older brother.
Maratua: parents of husband or wife.
Anak manthu: son-in-law or daughter-in-law treated as own child.
Mas ipe: older brother-in-law.
Mbak ipe: older sister-in-law.
Adik ipe: younger sibling-in-law, male or female.
Besan: parents of son-in-law or daughter-in-law.
These are some kinship terms in Javanese society that are still used to this day. Hopefully beneficial, lur!