Cempe
/jv/Source Language: The language or dialect this term originates from (JV).Definition & Context
NounNoun
A word that functions as the name of a specific object or set of objects, such as living creatures, places, actions, qualities, states of existence, or ideas.
A very young goat kid, typically only a few days to a few weeks old, and not yet weaned from its mother. This term is a characteristic word in Javanese vocabulary used to refer to a “young goat” or “baby goat” in the context of traditional animal husbandry.
Synonyms & Variants
anak kambing
The standard Indonesian equivalent for the Javanese word `cempe`.
cempe
The word `cempe` is used consistently in both Central Javanese and East Javanese dialects without significant formal variation.
wedus cilik
A descriptive Ngoko Javanese phrase combining `wedus` (goat) and `cilik` (small), more general in usage than `cempe`.
glatik
Used in specific dialect contexts and less common than `cempe`.
Usage Notes or Etymology
The word cempe originates from Ngoko Javanese vocabulary and has long been used in the agrarian and livestock-rearing traditions of Javanese society. It refers specifically to a “baby goat” that is still very small and young, distinguishing it from an adult goat called wedus in Ngoko Javanese. In the livestock traditions of rural Central Java and East Java, cempe is a very familiar term used daily by farmers and herders. The word reflects the richness of the Javanese lexicon in distinguishing the age stages of livestock animals in greater detail than standard Indonesian, which only uses the general term “anak kambing” (baby goat). The term can also occasionally be used metaphorically to describe something small, frail, or very young.
Real-world Usage
Iku cempe anyar sing lair, ojo diganggu disik yo! (Itu anak kambing yang baru lahir, jangan diganggu dulu ya!)
English Translation
Representative of real-world usage and contextual accuracy.