SOUND RESPECTFULSundanese Speech Levels: Polite (Lemes) and Casual (Loma) Language
Sundanese has an elaborate system of speech levels, called tatakrama basa Sunda or language manners. Many everyday words come in a casual form and a polite form, and choosing between them is how speakers show respect.
Related guides: Basic Sundanese phrases, Sundanese greetings, and Sundanese slang.
Two main levels and a rough register
Modern descriptions group Sundanese into basa hormat (respectful) and basa loma (neutral and familiar). Hormat is further divided into hormat ka batur, which raises the person you speak to or about, and hormat ka sorangan, which humbly lowers yourself. Loma is the everyday variety used in most Sundanese magazines, newspapers, and books.
A rough register, called cohag or kasar, exists only among very close friends or in anger, mainly in the Priangan dialect. Older descriptions recognized more levels, and the details vary between sources and families.
| Level | Used for | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Loma | friends, peers, younger people | dahar, datang, bawa |
| Hormat ka batur | elders and respected people you speak to or about | tuang, angkat, sumping |
| Hormat ka sorangan | yourself, humbly | neda, mios, dongkap |
| Cohag (rough) | very close friends or anger | aing, sia |
Learn word pairs
Many common words have separate casual and polite forms. Some polite words also split depending on whether you are talking about someone else or about yourself, so learn each pair with its note.
| Meaning | Casual (loma) | Polite (lemes) |
|---|---|---|
| eat | dahar | tuang (for others); neda (for yourself) |
| drink | inum | leueut |
| write | tulis | serat |
| read | maca | maos |
| forget | poho | lali (for others); hilap (for yourself) |
| remember | inget | émut |
| sit | diuk | linggih (for others); calik (for yourself) |
| stand | nangtung | ngadeg |
| go | indit | angkat (for others); mios (for yourself) |
| sleep | saré | kulem |
| house | imah | bumi (someone else's); rorompok (your own) |
| want; will | hayang; arék | hoyong; badé |
Pronouns by level
Pronouns change with the level too. Abdi and anjeun are the standard polite pair, urang and manéh are casual, and kuring is a neutral I that sits between them. Mantenna is used for someone to be respected.
| Meaning | Rough | Casual | Polite |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | aing | urang | abdi |
| you | sia | manéh | anjeun |
| he; she | si éta | manéhna | anjeunna; mantenna |
| they | none | maranéhna | aranjeunna |
Hear it in sentences
The same idea sounds different at each level. Compare the pairs below, and notice that angkat is used for the other person while mios is used for yourself.
- When you are unsure, start polite and follow the other person's lead.
- Match the level to the relationship, not only to the topic.
- Expect regional and family differences in how strictly the rules are used.
Sundanese speech levels FAQ
What are the Sundanese speech levels?
Modern descriptions use two main levels, loma (casual and neutral) and hormat (respectful), plus a rough register used among very close friends. Older descriptions list more levels.
Should beginners learn polite or casual Sundanese first?
Learn polite forms for greetings, thanks, and requests, plus the casual forms you hear from friends. Polite is the safer default with strangers and elders.
What is the difference between tuang and neda?
Both are polite words for eat. Tuang is used for other people, and neda is used for yourself. Dahar is the casual form.
References and free Sundanese resources
Use this article as a practical starting point, then verify vocabulary, explore the grammar in depth, and compare what you hear from proficient speakers in your community.