Javanese Alphabet
The Javanese alphabet uses the Hanacaraka script with 20 basic consonants and various vowel diacritics.
ꦲ
Ha
ha
ꦤ
Na
na
ꦕ
Ca
ca
ꦫ
Ra
ra
ꦏ
Ka
ka
ꦢ
Da
da
ꦠ
Ta
ta
ꦱ
Sa
sa
ꦮ
Wa
wa
ꦭ
La
la
ꦥ
Pa
pa
ꦝ
Dha
dha
ꦗ
Ja
ja
ꦪ
Ya
ya
ꦚ
Nya
nya
ꦩ
Ma
ma
ꦒ
Ga
ga
ꦧ
Ba
ba
ꦛ
Tha
tha
ꦔ
Nga
nga
Download Alphabet Chart
About the Javanese Alphabet
The Javanese script, known as Hanacaraka or Carakan, is an abugida used to write the Javanese language. It consists of 20 basic consonants with inherent vowel sounds that can be modified with diacritics. The script is derived from the ancient Brahmi script and has been used for over a thousand years.
History
The Javanese script evolved from the Kawi script around the 15th century, which itself came from the Pallava script of South India. The script was widely used in Java until the 20th century when Latin script became dominant. Today, it is still taught in schools and used for cultural and ceremonial purposes.
Key Features
- Written from left to right
- 20 basic consonants
- Abugida script system
- Vowel diacritics
- Derived from Brahmi
- Over 1000 years old