Sewelas
/jv/Source Language: The language or dialect this term originates from (JV).Definition & Context
NumeralNumeral
A figure, symbol, or group of these denoting a number.
The number eleven in the Javanese language, representing a native Javanese numeral lexicon used in everyday conversation, particularly in the ngoko register.
Synonyms & Variants
sadasa setunggal
The number 'eleven' in the Javanese Krama Inggil register, which is more refined and formal.
sebelas
The standard Modern Indonesian equivalent for the same numeral.
eleven
Cross-language equivalent, occasionally used in modern or code-switching contexts.
Usage Notes or Etymology
The word sewelas originates from the ancient Javanese numeral system, which forms teens by combining the prefix se- with a base unit. The prefix se- is a bound morpheme meaning “one” in Javanese, equivalent to sa- in standard Indonesian, while welas is a suffix that forms teen numbers (eleven through nineteen) in Javanese. Thus, sewelas literally means “one-teen” or eleven. This form is widely used across Javanese-speaking regions, including Central Java and East Java, in the ngoko lugu register. In the krama register, the equivalent may be expressed as setunggal welas, though sewelas is sometimes retained depending on the level of speech formality.
Real-world Usage
Aku teka jam sewelas bengi, adoh banget seko omah. (Aku tiba jam sebelas malam, jauh sekali dari rumah.)
English Translation
Representative of real-world usage and contextual accuracy.