Wayah
/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 Javanese word meaning time, moment, or a specific season referring to a particular period or appropriate moment. Used to express that something has arrived at its proper time or is in the right condition to be carried out.
Synonyms & Variants
kala
Archaic or more formal form for 'time' or 'period'.
musim
Standard equivalent in formal Indonesian.
saat
A very brief moment; a specific point in time.
waktu
Refers to the general concept of time.
wektu
A ngoko variant of 'time' in Javanese, carrying nearly equivalent meaning to 'wayah' but more commonly used to refer to time in a neutral sense without the nuance of an appropriate or fitting moment.
titi wanci
A krama expression meaning 'the right time' or 'appointed moment', often used in formal or ceremonial Javanese contexts, carrying a stronger nuance of precise timing than 'wayah'.
jaman
A loanword from Arabic via Malay used in ngoko Javanese to refer to a particular period or era; loosely synonymous with 'wayah' in the context of seasons or epochs, though its semantic scope is broader.
Usage Notes or Etymology
Derived from Old Javanese wayah, tied to natural and agricultural cycles. Used in ngoko register to mark the rightness of a moment, not merely duration. Stronger than wektu as it implies the natural ripeness or readiness of a condition.
Real-world Usage
Wis wayahe panen jagung iki. (Sudah waktunya panen jagung ini.)
English Translation
Representative of real-world usage and contextual accuracy.
More Examples
Wayahe ngopi iki, ben ra ngantuk. (Waktunya ngopi ini, biar tidak mengantuk.)
It's coffee time, so I don't get sleepy.