Guide
How to write a name in Sundanese script
Start with how the name sounds, then choose its letters and vowel marks. This guide uses modern standard Sundanese script, with examples that make the writing process easier to follow.
To write a name in Sundanese script, identify its sounds, choose the base letters, and add vowel marks or pamaéh. A basic consonant includes an /a/ vowel. Sundanese and Javanese are separate scripts.
Basic Sundanese letters for writing names
Consonant letters: ngalagena
Each basic consonant includes /a/: ᮊ is ka, ᮘ is ba, and ᮓ is da. An added mark can change that vowel.
Independent vowels: swara
Use an independent vowel when it does not attach to a consonant. Examples include ᮃ for a and ᮆ for é.
Attached marks: rarangkén
These marks can change a vowel or add a final sound. Both the vowel mark panghulu and the vowel-cancelling pamaéh belong to this group.
Sundanese vowel marks and pamaéh
| Mark | Sound | Example with ᮊ |
|---|---|---|
| No mark | a | ᮊ — ka |
| Panghulu | i | ᮊᮤ — ki |
| Panyuku | u | ᮊᮥ — ku |
| Panéléng | é | ᮊᮦ — ké |
| Panolong | o | ᮊᮧ — ko |
| Pamepet | Schwa /ə/ | ᮊᮨ — ke |
| Paneuleung | eu /ɤ/ | ᮊᮩ — keu |
| Pamaéh | Cancels the vowel | ᮊ᮪ — k |
How to convert a name into Sundanese script
-
Confirm the pronunciation
Ask how the name is said, especially when its Latin spelling contains e. The pronunciation guide can help explain relevant sound distinctions.
-
Break the name into sounds
Budi divides into bu-di. Asep, when pronounced Asép, divides into a-sép. Follow the person's pronunciation rather than an English reading of the letters.
-
Choose the base letters
Use independent vowel letters and consonant letters as needed. A Latin letter does not always correspond directly to one Sundanese character.
-
Add marks and read it back
Change the vowels with the appropriate marks and cancel an inherent vowel where necessary. Have a reader of Sundanese script check the result.
Budi and Asep in Sundanese script
| Name and pronunciation | Sundanese spelling | Construction |
|---|---|---|
| Budi: bu-di | ᮘᮥᮓᮤ | Ba + panyuku; da + panghulu |
| Asep: a-sép | ᮃᮞᮦᮕ᮪ | A; sa + panéléng; pa + pamaéh |
Names to practise in Sundanese script
Practise vowel choices with these names. Explore Sundanese naming traditions for context; a name does not establish its bearer's background.
How to check a Sundanese name spelling
- Check whether each e represents schwa or é, and distinguish both from eu.
- Check whether each consonant should retain its inherent /a/.
- Check final consonants and any dedicated final-sound marks.
- Use a font that displays the letters and attached marks clearly.
- Ask a knowledgeable reader to review the spelling before engraving, printing, or tattooing it.
Questions about names in Sundanese script
Is Sundanese script the same as Javanese script?
No. Their letters and spelling conventions differ. The Javanese name tool produces Javanese writing, so its output is not a Sundanese spelling.
Does every Latin e use the same mark?
No. Schwa uses pamepet, while é uses panéléng. The distinct Sundanese vowel eu uses paneuleung. Standalone vowels require the corresponding independent vowel letters.
Can names from other languages be written in Sundanese?
They can be represented by sound, although some sounds need adaptation. The appropriate spelling can depend on family pronunciation and the convention being followed.
Does a name's meaning determine its spelling?
No; the spelling follows pronunciation.
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