Javanese language is rich in numerical expressions. What is written here is the form in standard written Javanese. Spoken Javanese or dialects can take different forms.
Numerals
Basic numerals
The numerals 0–9 have independent and modifier forms. The modifiers are used to form powers of 10 or modify the sum of object. In some cases, there is more than one word for a numeral reflecting the Javanese register system: ngoko (low-register) and krama (high-register).
Like English, Javanese has compound forms for the teens; however, it also has a series of compound 'tweens', 21–29. The teens are based on a root wĕlas and the tweens on likur.
Especially for numerals between 30 and 40, there are two formats: proper form and shortened form (wancahan).
Numeral
Teen
Numeral
Tween
Numeral
Thirty
Ngoko
Krama
Ngoko
Krama
Proper
Shortened
11
sawĕlas
-
21
salikur
-
31
tĕlung puluh siji
beh-ji
12
ro wĕlas
kalih wĕlas
22
ro likur
kalih likur
32
tĕlung puluh (lo)ro
beh-ro
13
tĕlu wĕlas
tiga wĕlas
23
tĕlu likur
tiga likur
33
tĕlung puluh tĕlu
beh-lu
14
pat wĕlas
sakawan wĕlas
24
pat likur
sakawan likur
34
tĕlung puluh (pa)pat
beh-pat
15
lima wĕlas
gangsal wĕlas
25
salawe
salangkung
35
salapan
beh-ma
16
ĕnĕm wĕlas
-
26
ĕnĕm likur
-
36
tĕlung puluh ĕnĕm
beh-nĕm
17
pitu wĕlas
-
27
pitu likur
-
37
tĕlung puluh pitu
beh-tu
18
wolu wĕlas
-
28
wolu likur
-
38
tĕlung puluh wolu
beh-wo
19
sanga wĕlas
-
29
sanga likur
-
39
tĕlung puluh sanga
beh-nga
Powers of 10
When basic numbers are combined with powers of 10, the modifier is applied. The table below uses the modifier of one (sa-) as an example.
There are 3 words that mean "minus half of" some number. Tĕngah means minus half of 1, sasur means minus half of 10, and bĕlah means minus half of 100.
The format is ka- + basic numeral + minus half numeral. The basic numeral’s place value is decided by the minus half numeral, so the lima ("five") in kalima tĕngah (4+1⁄2) means five, while the lima in kalima sasur (45) means fifty.
For place values over 100, compounds containing bĕlah are used. Minus half of 1000 is bĕlah iwu. Minus half of 10,000 is bĕlah lĕksa.
Tĕngah
Sasur
Bĕlah
Arabic Numeral
Javanese Name
Arabic Numeral
Javanese Name
Arabic Numeral
Javanese Name
1⁄2
satĕngah
35
kapat sasur
150
karo bĕlah
1+1⁄2
karo tĕngah
45
kalima sasur
250
katĕlu bĕlah
2+1⁄2
katĕlu tĕngah
55
kaĕnĕm sasur
350
kapat bĕlah
3+1⁄2
kapat tĕngah
65
kapitu sasur
450
kalima bĕlah
4+1⁄2
kalima tĕngah
75
kawolu sasur
550
kaĕnĕm bĕlah
5+1⁄2
kaĕnĕm tĕngah
85
kasanga sasur
650
kapitu bĕlah
6+1⁄2
kapitu tĕngah
95
kasapuluh sasur
750
kawolu bĕlah
7+1⁄2
kawolu tĕngah
850
kasanga bĕlah
8+1⁄2
kasanga tĕngah
950
kasapuluh bĕlah
9+1⁄2
kasapuluh tĕngah
1,500
karo bĕlah iwu
99+1⁄2
kasaatus tĕngah
45,000
kapat bĕlah lĕksa
and so on...
Sasur is only used for thirty and above.
Fractions
Fractions are made up of numerator (modifier form) + pra- + denominator. Below is the example:
Numeral
Numerator
Denominator
Name
3⁄4
tĕlu
pat
tĕlung prapat
1⁄3
siji
tĕlu
sapratĕlu
4⁄5
pat
lima
patang pralima
Special numerals
There are several forms of numbering that do not follow the pattern above. These special numerals can be combined with the powers of 10.
Numeral
Name
Ngoko
Krama
25
salawe
salangkung
35
salapan
-
50
saikĕt
-
60
sawidak
-
75
tĕlung lawe
-
400
samas
-
800
dhomas
-
Examples
Numeral
Javanese
English
Literal
Transcription
351+1⁄2
Kapat bĕlah karo tĕngah
Four hundred minus fifty and two minus one-half
Three hundred fifty-one and a half
500,075
Limang kĕthi kawolu sasur
Five kĕthi and eighty minus five
Five hundred thousand and seventy five
123,456,789
Sabahara rong wĕndra tĕlung yuta kalima belah kĕthi ĕnĕm iwu pitung atus wolung puluh sanga
One bahara two wĕndra three million five hundred minus fifty thousand and six thousand seven hundred eighty-nine
One hundred and twenty-three million four hundred and fifty-six thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine
The word śūnya for zero was calqued into Arabic as صفرsifr, meaning 'nothing', which became the term "zero" in many European languages via Medieval Latinzephirum.[2]
^Use of separator in digit grouping here follows customs in most English-speaking countries. For international standards and details, see decimal mark.