Sundanese
Basa Sunda
The angklung — Sundanese bamboo musical instruments played together in orchestras — is UNESCO-listed! Learning to play it is taught in schools across West Java.
Lin says:
Sampurasun! I'm Lin! Sundanese is spoken in West Java — home to Bandung, one of Southeast Asia's most creative cities! The Sundanese people are famous for their polite, gentle culture and extraordinary music — angklung (bamboo instruments) are UNESCO-listed! Volcanic West Java has incredible scenery: crater lakes, tea plantations, and the terraced rice paddies of Tegalalang. Hatur nuhun! (Thank you!)
Quick Facts
Speakers
~42 million
Language Family
Austronesian
Instrument
Angklung (UNESCO-listed bamboo)
Home
West Java, Indonesia
Discover Sundanese
The angklung — Sundanese bamboo musical instruments played together in orchestras — is UNESCO-listed! Learning to play it is taught in schools across West Java.
Writing System
Sundanese script & Latin
Native Speakers
~42 million
Key Countries
For Educators
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Did You Know?
Sundanese is the second most spoken indigenous language in Indonesia after Javanese — reflecting the huge diversity of languages across the Indonesian archipelago.
The Sundanese concept of "someah hade ka semah" — being hospitable and warm to guests — is a core cultural value built into everyday Sundanese language and interaction.
Bandung, West Java's capital, is nicknamed the "Paris of Java" — known for its cool highland climate, colonial architecture, and thriving fashion and creative arts scene.
What Makes Sundanese Special?
Angklung — Bamboo Orchestra
The angklung — sets of bamboo tubes tuned to specific pitches — creates complex music when shaken by many players together. It is on UNESCO's cultural heritage list.
Volcanic Wonders
West Java has some of Indonesia's most dramatic volcanic landscapes — including the turquoise crater lake of Kawah Putih (White Crater) and the bubbling sulphur vents of Ijen.
Wayang Golek
Sundanese wayang golek — a form of puppet theatre using three-dimensional wooden puppets — is a distinct and beloved art form, different from the flat shadow puppets of Javanese tradition.
Keep Exploring the World!
Languages are windows into the world's cultures. Discover more languages and the countries where they are spoken.