sundanese: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Academic, Ethnographic
Quick answer
What does “sundanese” mean?
The Austronesian language spoken by the Sunda people primarily in the western part of the Indonesian island of Java.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The Austronesian language spoken by the Sunda people primarily in the western part of the Indonesian island of Java.
Also refers to the people (the Sunda), their culture, traditions, and anything pertaining to the West Java region of Indonesia.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
In academic circles, it typically connotes the field of Southeast Asian studies or linguistics.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, primarily encountered in specific contexts like academic papers, travel guides, or cultural discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “sundanese” in a Sentence
to speak [Sundanese]the [Sundanese] language[Sundanese] is spoken in...of [Sundanese] originVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sundanese” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Sundanese script is known as Aksara Sunda.
- She studies Sundanese gamelan music.
American English
- He collects Sundanese textiles.
- The Sundanese community in the city is growing.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts like localization for the Sundanese-speaking market.
Academic
Common in linguistics, anthropology, and Southeast Asian studies departments.
Everyday
Very rare outside of discussions about Indonesia, language learning, or travel.
Technical
Used in linguistic typology, language documentation, and ethnographic research.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sundanese”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sundanese”
- Misspelling as 'Sudanese'.
- Using lower case ('sundanese').
- Confusing it with 'Javanese' (the language of central/eastern Java).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) is the national and official language of Indonesia. Sundanese is a regional language spoken primarily in West Java. They are distinct languages.
Estimates vary, but Sundanese is spoken by approximately 40-42 million people, making it one of the most widely spoken languages in Indonesia.
Yes. While it has its own traditional script (Aksara Sunda), Sundanese is commonly written using a modified Latin alphabet in everyday use, similar to Indonesian.
For speakers of Western languages, the main challenges are the complex system of speech levels (undak-usuk) denoting respect and social context, and pronunciation features like retroflex consonants.
The Austronesian language spoken by the Sunda people primarily in the western part of the Indonesian island of Java.
Sundanese is usually formal, academic, ethnographic in register.
Sundanese: in British English it is pronounced /sʌndəˈniːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsʌndəˈniz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Sunday' on the Indonesian island of Java. 'Sun-da-nese' is the language of western Java.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A PEOPLE (e.g., 'Sundanese is spoken by millions'). CULTURE IS A LANGUAGE.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary geographic region associated with Sundanese?