Madurese language#Phonology

Madurese
Bhâsa Madhurâ
ꦧꦱꦩꦝꦸꦫ
بۤاسا مادورۤا
Pronunciation[bʰɤsa maʈʰurɤ]
Native toIndonesia
Malaysia
Singapore
RegionMadura Islands (incl. Sapudi, Masalembu), Java, Singapore, and Malaysia
Ethnicity
Native speakers
10–13.6 million (2008)[1]
Standard forms
Sumenep Madurese[2]
Dialects
Latin script (Madurese Latin alphabet (Latèn))
Javanese script (Carakan)
Pegon script (Pèghu)
Official status
Regulated byBadan Pengembangan dan Pembinaan Bahasa (in Indonesia)
Language codes
ISO 639-2mad
ISO 639-3
mad – Standard Madurese
Glottolognucl1460
  Areas where Madurese is spoken by a majority of the population
  Areas where Madurese is spoken by a significant minority of the population
This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA.
Madurese in Carakan (Javanese script).

Madurese (/ˌmadʒᵿˈriːz/ MAD-yuh-reez; Bhâsa Madhurâ, Carakan script: ꦧꦱꦩꦝꦸꦫ, Pegon script: بۤاسا مادورۤا, IPA: [bʰɤsa maʈʰurɤ]) is a language of the Madurese people, native to the Madura Island and eastern part of Java, Indonesia; it is also spoken by migrants to other parts of Indonesia, namely the Surabaya, Malang, Gresik, eastern salient of Java (comprising Pasuruan, Bondowoso, Probolinggo, Situbondo, Jember, Lumajang, to Banyuwangi), the Masalembu Islands, Raas Islands, and some on Kalimantan.[3] It was traditionally written in the Javanese script, but the Latin script and the Pegon script (based on Arabic script) is now more commonly used. The number of speakers, though shrinking, is estimated to be 10–14 million, making it one of the most widely spoken languages in the country. Bawean language, which is a dialect of Madurese, is also spoken by Bawean people in Bawean Island, Indonesia. Then also by their descendants in Malaysia and Singapore.

Classification

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According to K. Alexander Adelaar, Madurese is a Malayo-Sumbawan language of the Malayo-Polynesian language family, a branch of the larger Austronesian language family. Thus, despite apparent geographic spread, Madurese is more related to Balinese, Malay, Sasak, and Sundanese, than it is to Javanese, the language used on the island of Java just across Madura Island.

Links between Bali–Sasak languages and Madurese are more evident with the vernacular form (common form).[citation needed]

Phonology

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Latin letters are given according to the 2008 orthography.[4]

Vowels

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Madurese vowels
Front Central Back
unrounded rounded
Close /i/
⟨i⟩
/ɨ/
⟨e⟩
/u/
⟨u⟩
Mid /ɛ/
⟨è⟩
/ə/
ꦄꦼ ⟨e⟩
/ɤ/
ꦄꦼꦴ ⟨â⟩
/ɔ/
⟨o⟩
Open /a/
⟨a⟩

Vowels /a/, /ɛ/, /ə/, /ɔ/ and its higher counterparts /ɤ/, /i/, /ɨ/, /u/ are usually in complementary distribution. The last 4 vowels occur after voiced and aspirated consonants, while the first 4 vowels occur elsewhere. Consonants /l/, /r/, and /s/, although by default lower the vowels, are transparent after higher vowels, for example belli /bɨlli/ "to buy" instead of *bellè /bɨllɛ/.[5]

Consonants

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Madurese consonants
Labial Dental/
Alveolar
Retroflex Palatal Velar Glottal
Nasal /m/
⟨m⟩ ⟨م⟩
//
⟨n⟩ ⟨ن⟩
/ɳ/
⟨ṇ⟩ ⟨ن⟩
/ɲ/
⟨ny⟩ ⟨ۑ⟩
/ŋ/
⟨ng⟩ ⟨ڠ⟩
Plosive voiceless /p/
⟨p⟩ ⟨ڤ⟩
//
⟨t⟩ ⟨ت⟩
/ʈ/
⟨ṭ⟩ ⟨ڟ⟩
/c/
⟨c⟩ ⟨چ⟩
/k/
⟨k⟩ ⟨ك⟩
/ʔ/
⟨'⟩ ⟨ء⟩
voiced /b/
⟨b⟩ ⟨ب⟩
//
⟨d⟩ ⟨د⟩
/ɖ/
⟨ḍ⟩ ⟨ڊ⟩
/ɟ/
⟨j⟩ ⟨ج⟩
/ɡ/
⟨g⟩ ⟨ࢴ⟩
aspirated //
⟨bh⟩ ⟨ب⟩
/t̪ʰ/
⟨dh⟩ ⟨د⟩
/ʈʰ/
⟨ḍh⟩ ⟨ڊ⟩
//
⟨jh⟩ ⟨ج⟩
//
⟨gh⟩ ⟨ࢴ⟩
Fricative /s/
⟨s⟩ ⟨س⟩
/h/
⟨h⟩ ⟨ه⟩
Trill /r/
⟨r⟩ ⟨ر⟩
Approximant /l/
⟨l⟩ ⟨ل⟩
/j/
⟨y⟩ ⟨ي⟩
/w/
⟨w⟩ ⟨و⟩

Madurese has more consonants than its neighboring languages due to it having voiceless unaspirated, voiceless aspirated (traditionally often transcribed as voiced aspirated), and voiced unaspirated. Similar to Javanese, it has a contrast between dental and alveolar (even retroflex) stops.[6][7]

The letters ⟨f⟩, ⟨q⟩, ⟨v⟩, ⟨x⟩, and ⟨z⟩ are used in loanwords.[8]

Writing system

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Alphabet letters

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Currently Madurese is mainly used the Latin script than other scripts, the Latin alphabet in Madurese is known as Alfabet Latèn. The Latin alphabet letters used in Madurese spelling are as follows. The name of each letter is listed next to it.[9]

Letter Name Letter Name Letter Name
A a a J j je S s es
B b be K k ka T t te
C c ce L l el U u u
D d de M m em V v ve
E e e N n en W w we
F f ef O o o X x ex
G g ge P p pe Y y ye
H h ha Q q qi Z z zet
I i i R r er

Vowels

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Vowels Examples at the Beginning of Words Examples in the Middle of Words Example at the End of the Word
a alos (fine)
apoy (fire)
market (market)
abâs (see)
sala (false)
bâbâ (bottom)
e eppa' (father)
ella (don't)
nèser (pity)
seksek (suffocation)
è èntar (go)
ènga' (remember)
sèksèk (iris)
malèng (thief)
talè (rope)
sapè (cow)
i yesâ (yes) bhiru (green)
raddhin (beautiful)
manḍi (bathing)
mandhi (efficacious)
o olo' (weak)
olok (call)
rèpot (busy)
dokar (dokar)
pao (mango)
rao (weed)
u dhuri (split, prick)
thorn (thorn)
paju (sell)
pumpkin (fall)

Note:
1. The vowel /a/ has two sound variations, namely [a] and [â]; The vowel /a/ will sound [a] if the consonant is attached to it are voiceless consonants and consonants nasal, will sound [â] if the consonant is attached to it in the form of voiced consonants. For practical purposes, second The sound symbol /a/ is both used.
2. The diacritical mark (') on the vowel /è/ is still used because /è/ and /e/ in Madurese are phonemes different, as in the words seksek (shortness) and sèksèk (iris), tèmbhâng (weigh) and tembhâng (Iagu).

Consonant letters

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Consonant Letters Examples at the Beginning of Words Examples in the Middle of Words Example at the End of the Word
b bârâ (swelling) lobâr (finished) sabâb (cause)
c cangkem (chin) moncar (published)
lonca' (jump)
d dumeng (stupid) badal (deputy) morèd (pupil)
ḍârâ (blood) buḍu (rotten [for fish])
f faker (fakir) shroud (shroud) wâkaf (waqf)
g gâmbus (orchestral) anggâ' (arrogant, haughty)
h halal (lawful) aher (end)
j jâḍiyâ (sana) paju (sale)
k you (less) sakè' (sick) otek (brain)
l ban (expensive) malo (embarrassed) ship (ship)
m marè (already) ambu (stop) ḍâlem (in)
n neser (pity) penang (betel nut) board (board)
p perrèng (plate)
perrèng (bamboo)
nompa (spill) kèlap (lightning)
q quran (Quran) furqan (furqan)
r rammè (crowded) sarè (search) kasor (mattress)
s sèyang (afternoon) moso (enemy) bherrâs (rice)
t tèkos (rat) matta (raw) sèsèt (dragonfly)
v vitamin (vitamin) revolution (revolution)
w wâjib (obligatory) towa (old)
y yâkèn (sure) rèya (this)
z zâkat (zakat) mu'jizât (miracle)

Note:
1. The consonants /f/, /q/, /v/, /x/, and /z/ are used in Madurese to write words that are loanwords.
2. For practical purposes, the hamzah or glottal stop sound ([?]) is symbolized by an apostrophe (..'..). This symbol is used because the velar /k/ ([k]) and the glottal /k/ ([?]) are different phonemes in Madurese. Furthermore, glottal stops in Madurese are often placed in the middle of words. Examples include: "paka" [paka?] (astringent taste), "cèlo" (sour taste), and "pa'a" [pa?a?] (tatah [tool for hollowing wood]).

Consonant Combinations

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In Madurese, there are five letter combinations that represent consonants: "kh," "ng," "ny," "sy," and "th," as well as five aspirated consonants. In Madurese, aspirated and unaspirated consonants are distinct phonemes and therefore require different symbols. For example, bârâ (swelling) and bhârâ (lungs); ḍâḍâ (chest) and ḍhâḍhâ (quickly tired); bâjâ (moment, time) and bâjhâ (steel [a type of metal]) as well as bâgi (share) and bâghi (give).

Consonant Letters Examples at the Beginning of Words Examples in the Middle of Words Example at the End of the Word
kh khoso' (solemn) èkhlas (sincere)
ng ngoḍâ (young) bângal (brave) sarong (sarong)
ny comfortable (tasty) bânnya' (a lot)
sy condition (condition) society (society)
bh bhârâ (lungs) cabbhi (chili pepper)
th thokthok (tap) ketthok (cut)
dh dhârâ (dove) dhudhul (dodol [a type of food])
ḍh ḍhenḍheng (dizzy) aḍḍhâng (block)
gh ghâghâman (sharp weapon) bighi (seed)
jh jhârân (horse) tajhin (porridge [a type of food])

Diphthongs

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In Madurese, there are three diphthongs symbolized by ay, oy, and uy.

Consonant Letters Examples at the Beginning of Words Examples in the Middle of Words Examples at the End of Words
ay nyaynyay (soft) tapay (tapai, tape)
labây (woven thread)
oy loyloy (tired, powerless) kompoy (grandson)
uy kerbhuy (buffalo)

Morphology

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Madurese nouns are not inflected for gender and are pluralized via reduplication. Its basic word order is subject–verb–object. Negation is expressed by putting a negative particle before the verb, adjective or noun phrase. As with other similar languages, there are different negative particles for different kinds of negation.[10]

Vocabulary

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Madurese Indonesian English
Latin Pèghu
lakè’ لاكَيء laki-laki male
binè’ بِينَيء perempuan female
iyâ إيۤا iya yes
enja′ أٓنجاْء tidak no
aèng [aɛŋ] أئَيڠ air water
arè أرَي matahari sun
mata ماتا mata eye
sengko' سَيڠكَوء aku/saya I/me
bâ'na بۤاءنا kamu/engkau you

Numerals

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Madurese Indonesian English
Latin Pèghu
sèttong سَيتَّوڠ satu one
duwâ' دووۤاء dua two
tello' تٓلَّوء tiga three
empa' اۤمڤاء empat four
lèma’ لَيماء lima five
ennem اۤنّٓم enam six
pètto’ ڤَيتَّوء tujuh seven
bâllu’ بۤالّوء delapan eight
sanga′ ساڠاء sembilan nine
sapolo ساڤَولَو sepuluh ten

Language levels

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Madurese, like Sasak, Javanese and Balinese, also has levels/register, but they differ slightly in that they are divided into only three:

  • The Most Polite, Most Formal Sentence Form (Èngghi-Bhunten)

Èngghi-Bhunten is the most polite and refined form of speech used to show respect for the person being spoken to or discussed. This includes addressing parents, elders, teachers, people of higher rank, community leaders, and other respected figures.

  • Polite, Natural, Formal Sentence Form (Engghi-Enten)
  • Casual, Informal, Familiar Sentence Form (Enjâ'-Iyâ)

Enjâ'-Iyâ is a sentence form used in familiar situations among peers or younger people. Enjâ'-Iyâ is often used in everyday social situations. Enjâ'-Iyâ is not commonly used in first meetings; speakers usually ask permission to use Enjâ'-Iyâ after getting to know each other. With younger speakers or children, Enjâ'-Iyâ is common and acceptable to use without asking permission first.

Using Enjâ'-Iyâ towards a senior or someone older or in a higher position without permission is considered impolite. Enjâ'-Iyâ is only used with people of the same age, younger, or (if with someone older) with their permission.

If the age or status of the person you are talking to is unknown, it is better not to use Enjâ'-Iyâ. However, if you know the person is younger, you may use Enjâ'-Iyâ, but for the sake of comfort, it is better to ask permission first before using Enjâ'-Iyâ.

Example:

  • "¿Saponapa arghâèpon pao panèka?" : How much are the mangoes? (Èngghi-Bhunten)
  • "¿Sanapè arghâna paona?" : How much are the mangoes? (Engghi-Enten)
  • "¿Bârâmpa arghâna paona?" : How much does the mango cost? (Enjâ'-Iyâ)

Dialects and sub-dialects

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(See also Madurese dialects [id])

Map of the distribution of Madurese dialects.

Madurese also has dialects spread throughout the region where it is spoken. There are several dialects that are commonly used, such as:[11]

  1. Kangean dialect (but also considered as a separate language)
  2. Western dialects
    1. Bangkalan dialect (in Bangkalan)
    2. Sampang (in Sampang Regency)
  3. Eastern dialects
    1. Pamekasan dialect [id] (in Pamekasan Regency)
    2. Sumenep dialect (in Sumenep Regency)
  4. Pendalungan dialects (in Eastern salient of Java region known as Tapal Kuda)
    1. Banyuwangi dialect (in Banyuwangi Regency)
    2. Bondowoso dialect (in Bondowoso Regency)
    3. Jember dialect (in Jember Regency)
    4. Lumajang dialect (in Lumajang Regency)
    5. Pasuruan dialect (in Pasuruan Regency and city)
    6. Probolinggo dialect (in Probolinggo Regency)
    7. Situbondo dialect (in Situbondo Regency)
  5. Bawean dialects (in Bawean Island)
    1. Daun dialect
    2. Kepuhteluk dialect
    3. Bawean Creole
    4. Suwari dialect
  6. Madurese Islands dialects
    1. Giliraja–Raas dialect (in Giliraja [id] and Raas Islands)
    2. Sapudi dialect (in Sapudi Island)

The dialect used as the standard reference for Madurese is the Sumenep dialect, because Sumenep In the past, it was the center of the kingdom and Madurese culture. The other dialects are rural dialects that gradually blended with the mobilization of Madurese society. Meanwhile, in the eastern tip of Java, these dialects often mix with Javanese, and this dialect itself is called the Pendalungan dialect. The Tapal Kuda community outside Situbondo, Bondowoso, and the eastern part of Probolinggo generally master Javanese, in addition to Madurese.

For example, in the case of the pronoun 'you':

  • The word bâ'en for 'you' is commonly used in Madura. However, the word bâ'na is used in Sumenep and Bawean.
  • While the word kakè for 'you' is commonly used in eastern Bangkalan and Sampang.
  • hèdâ and sèdâ for 'you' are used in rural areas of Bangkalan.

Sample text

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From Article 1 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Latin
Sâdhâjâna orèng lahèr mardhika èsarengè dhrâjhât klabân ha'-ha' sè padâ. Sâdhâjâna èparèngè akal sareng nurani bân kodhu areng-sareng akanca kadhi tarètan.
Aksara Pèghu
[original research?] ساڊۤاجۤانا عَورَيڠ لاهَير مارڊيكا عَيسارۤڠَي ڊ‎رۤاجۤات کلابۤان هاء۲ سَي پادۤا. ساڊۤاجۤانا عَيڤارَيڠَي أکال سارۤڠ نوراني كَوڊو أرۤڠ-سارۤڠ أكانچا كاڊي تارَيتان.
Translation
"All Human Beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, they are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."

References

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  1. ^ "Perilaku Bahasa Orang Madura" (PDF). Kemdikbud (in Indonesian). Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Bahasa Madura Dan Peran Tim Nabara Kabupaten Sumenep". sumenepkab.go.id (in Indonesian). Sumenep Regency Government. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  3. ^ Rusiandi, Awaludin; Patrianto, Hero (2011). "Kajian Dialektologi Terhadap Bahasa Madura di Madura Kepulauan: Pulau Giliraja dan Raas". Jurnal Penelitian Bahasa (in Indonesian). Data Pokok Kebahasaan dan Kesastraan, Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Republik Indonesia. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  4. ^ see Davies (2010), p. 59
  5. ^ Davies 2010, p. 29
  6. ^ Davies (2010), p. 59
  7. ^ Stevens, Alan (2001). "Madurese". In Garry, J.; Rubino, C. (eds.). Facts About the World's Languages. New York: H. W. Wilson.
  8. ^ Ejaan Bahasa Madura yang Disempurnakan (in Indonesian). Departemen Pendidikan Nasional, Pusat Bahasa, Balai Bahasa Surabaya. 2008. p. 3.
  9. ^ Sofyan, Akhmad (2012). General Guidelines for Improved Madurese Spelling, Revised Edition. East Java Provincial Language Center. ISBN ISBN 978-602-8334-28-0. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ see Davies (2010), p. 273-275
  11. ^ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, ed. (2019). "Maduresic". Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History [Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History]. Maduresic: Kangeanese and Madurese [Maduric language family: Kangean language and Madurese language] {{cite web}}: |first3= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, ed. (2019). "Madurese" [Bahasa Madura]. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History [Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History]. {{cite web}}: |first3= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Bibliography

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