View source for Jawi script

{{Short description|Arabic alphabet used in Southeast Asia}}
{{distinguish|Javanese script|Pegon script|JavaScript}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox writing system
| name        = Jawi
| altname     = {{Script/Arabic|جاوي}}
| type        = [[Abjad]]
| sisters     = [[Pegon script]]
| languages   = {{plainlist|
* [[Acehnese language|Acehnese]]
* [[Banjarese language|Banjarese]]
* [[Betawi language|Betawi]]
* [[Iranun language|Iranun]]
* [[Kutainese language|Kutainese]]
* [[Maguindanao language|Maguindanao]]
* [[Maranao language|Mëranaw]]
* [[Malay language|Malay]]
* [[Minangkabau language|Minangkabau]]
* [[Tausūg language|Tausūg]]
* [[Ternate language|Ternate]]
*[[Cham language|Champa]]
*[[Myanmar Language|Burma]]
*[[Thai language|Thai]]
* several other languages in Southeast Asia
}}
| time        = {{Circa|9th century}} to the present (limited use in cultural & religious affairs only)
| fam1        = [[Proto-Sinaitic script|Proto-Sinaitic]]
| fam2        = [[Phoenician alphabet|Phoenician]]
| fam3        = [[Aramaic alphabet|Aramaic]]
| fam4        = [[Nabataean alphabet|Nabataean]]
| fam5        = [[Arabic alphabet|Arabic]]
| fam6        = [[Persian alphabet|Persian]]
| unicode     = 
| iso15924    = 
| sample      = File:Letter from William Farquhar to Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam, the Sultan of Brunei, dated 28 November 1819.jpg
| caption     = Letter from [[William Farquhar]] to Sultan [[Muhammad Kanzul Alam]], the sultan of [[Brunei]], dated 28 November 1819
| imagesize   = 
| direction   = Right-to-left
| official script = Co-official: <br/>{{flag|Brunei}}<br/>{{flag|Malaysia}}

Regional: <br/>{{flag|Indonesia}}<br/>{{flag|Philippines}} ([[Bangsamoro]]) <br/>{{flag|Thailand}} <br/> {{flag|Myanmar}}<br/>{{flag|Vietnam}} ([[Cham language|Champa]])
}}

'''Jawi''' ({{lang|ms-Arab|{{Script/Arabic|جاوي}}}}; {{langx|ace|Jawoe}}; {{IPA|ace|ɟa.ˈwɔə̯}}; {{Langx|ms|Jawi}}; {{IPA|ms|d͡ʒä.wi}}) is a [[writing system]] used for writing several languages of [[Southeast Asia]], such as [[Acehnese language|Acehnese]], [[Banjarese language|Banjarese]], [[Betawi language|Betawi]], [[Iranun language|Iranun]], [[Kutainese language|Kutainese]], [[Maguindanao language|Maguindanao]], [[Malay language|Malay]], [[Maranao language|Mëranaw]], [[Minangkabau language|Minangkabau]], [[Tausug language|Tausūg]], [[Ternate language|Ternate]], and many others. Jawi is based on the [[Arabic script]], consisting of all 31 original Arabic letters, six letters constructed to fit [[phoneme]]s native to Malay, and one additional phoneme used in foreign loanwords, but not found in [[Classical Arabic]], which are ''ca'' ({{angbr|{{Script|Arab|[[چ]]}}}} {{IPA|/t͡ʃ/}}), ''nga'' ({{angbr|{{Script|Arab|[[ڠ]]}}}} {{IPA|/ŋ/}}), ''pa'' ({{angbr|{{Script|Arab|[[ڤ]]}}}} {{IPA|/p/}}), ''ga'' ({{angbr|{{Script|Arab|[[ݢ]]}}}} {{IPA|/ɡ/}}), ''va'' ({{angbr|{{Script|Arab|[[ۏ]]}}}} {{IPA|/v/}}), and ''nya'' ({{angbr|{{Script|Arab|[[ڽ]]}}}} {{IPA|/ɲ/}}).

Jawi was developed during the [[Spread of Islam in Southeast Asia|advent of Islam]] in [[Maritime Southeast Asia]], supplanting the earlier [[Brahmic scripts]] used during Hindu-Buddhist era. The oldest evidence of Jawi writing can be found on the 14th century [[Terengganu Inscription Stone]], a text in [[Classical Malay]] that contains a mixture of Malay, Sanskrit and Arabic vocabularies. However, the script may have used as early as the 9th century, when [[Peureulak Sultanate]] has been established by the son of a Persian preacher. There are two competing theories on the origins of the Jawi alphabet. Popular theory suggests that the system was developed and derived directly from the [[Arabic script]], while scholars like [[Richard Olaf Winstedt|R. O. Windstedt]] suggest it was developed with the influence of the [[Perso-Arabic alphabet]].<ref>{{citation |last=Winstedt |first=Richard Olaf |title=Malay Chronicles from Sumatra and Malaya |journal=Historians of South-East Asia of Historical Writing on the Peoples of Asia |volume=2 |year=1961 |page=24}}</ref>

The ensuing trade expansions and the spread of Islam to other areas of Southeast Asia from the 15th century carried the Jawi alphabet beyond the traditional Malay-speaking world. Until the 20th century, Jawi was the standard script of the Malay language, and gave birth to traditional [[Malay literature]] when it featured prominently in official correspondences, religious texts, and literary publications. With the arrival of Western influence through colonization and education, Jawi was relegated to religious education, with the Malay language eventually adopting a form of the [[Latin script|Latin alphabet]] called ''[[Malay alphabet|Rumi]]'' that is currently in general usage.

Today, Jawi is one of two [[Official script|official scripts]] in [[Brunei]]. In Malaysia, the position of Jawi is protected under Section 9 of the [[National Language Act 1963/67]], as it retains a degree of official use in religious and cultural contexts. In some states, most notably [[Kelantan]], [[Terengganu]], and [[Pahang]], Jawi has co-official script status as businesses are mandated to adopt Jawi signage and billboards. Jawi is also used as an alternative script among Malay communities in Indonesia and Thailand.<ref>{{cite book |title=Language and National Identity in Asia|author=Andrew Alexander Simpson |year=2007 |pages=356–60 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-926748-4}}</ref>

Until the early 20th century, there was no standard spelling system for Jawi. The earliest [[Spelling reform|orthographic reform]] towards a standard system was in 1937 by The Malay Language and Johor Royal Literary Book Pact. This was followed by another reform by [[Zainal Abidin Ahmad (writer)|Za'aba]], published in 1949. The final major reform was the ''Enhanced Guidelines of Jawi Spelling'' issued in 1986'','' which was based on the Za'aba system. Jawi can be typed using the [[Jawi keyboard]].

==Etymology==
The word {{lang|ms|Jawi}} ({{lang|ms-Arab|جاوي}}) is a shortening of the term in {{langx|ar|الجزائر الجاوي|Al-Jaza'ir Al-Jawi|translation=Java Archipelago}}, which is the term used by [[Arabs]] for [[Nusantara (archipelago)|Nusantara]].<ref name="Ensiklopedia">{{cite book|last=Sudirman|first=Adi|title=Ensiklopedia Sejarah Lengkap Indonesia dari Era Klasik Sampai Kontemporer|language=id|publisher=Diva Press|year=2019|isbn=978-602-391-657-3|quote=Sementara itu, bangsa Arab menyebut tanah air kita dengan Jazair al-Jawi (Kepulauan Melayu)}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Oentoro|first=Jimmy|title=Indonesia Satu, Indonesia Beda, Indonesia Bisa|language=id|publisher=PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama|year=2010|isbn=978-979-22-5814-1|location=Jakarta}}</ref> The word {{lang|ar|jawi}} is a loanword from {{langx|jv|ꦗꦮꦶ|jawi}} which is [[Javanese language|Javanese Krama]] word to refer to the [[Java Island]] or [[Javanese people]].<ref name="Ensiklopedia" /><ref>{{cite book|last=Kridalaksana|first=Harimurti|title=Wiwara: Pengantar Bahasa dan Kebudayaan Jawa|language=id|publisher=PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama|year=2001|location=Jakarta}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=S.K.|first=Lim|title=Asian Civilizations|language=en|publisher=Asiapac Books |year=2011|isbn=978-981-229-594-1|location=Singapore}}</ref>

According to [[Kamus Dewan]], {{lang|ms|Jawi}} ({{lang|ms-Arab|جاوي}}) is a term synonymous to '[[Malays (ethnic group)|Malay]]'.<ref name=Jawi>{{cite web |url=https://prpm.dbp.gov.my/cari1?keyword=jawi |title=Jawi II |access-date=3 March 2019 |year=2017 |publisher=Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu}}</ref> The term has been used interchangeably with 'Malay' in other terms including {{lang|ms|Bahasa Jawi}} or {{lang|mfa-Latn|Bahasa Yawi}} ([[Kelantan-Pattani Malay]], a [[Malayan languages|Malayan language]] used in [[Southern Thailand]]), {{lang|ms|Masuk Jawi}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://prpmv1.dbp.gov.my/Search.aspx?k=masuk+jawi |title=Masuk Jawi |access-date=3 March 2019 |year=2017 |publisher=Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu}}</ref> (literally "to become Malay", referring to the practice of [[circumcision]] to symbolise the [[coming of age]]), and {{lang|ms|Jawi pekan}} or {{lang|ms|[[Jawi Peranakan]]}} (literally 'Malay of the town' or 'Malay born of', referring to the Malay-speaking Muslims of mixed Malay and Indian ancestry).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://prpmv1.dbp.gov.my/Search.aspx?k=jawi+pekan |title=Jawi Pekan |access-date=3 March 2019 |year=2017 |publisher=Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu}}</ref> With verb-building [[circumfix]]es {{lang|ms|men-...-kan}}, {{lang|ms|menjawikan}} (literally {{gloss|to make something Malay}}), also refers to the act of translating a foreign text into Malay language. The phrase {{lang|ms|Tulisan Jawi}} that means {{gloss|Jawi script}} is another derivative that carries the meaning 'Malay script'.<ref name=Jawi/>

==Early history==
[[File:Batu_nisan_beraksara_Jawi_di_Aceh.jpg|thumb|200px|left|A tombstone in [[Aceh]] with Jawi inscription dated from 16th or 17th century. The inscription are: <br/>'''1st row''': ''bahwasanya inilah nisan kubur''<br/>'''2nd row''': ''yang mulia bernama Meurah Meukuta''<br/>'''3rd row''': ''bergelar orang kaya kapai''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Laksamana Wanita Abad Ke-16/17 M Bernama Meurah Meukuta Bergelar Orangkaya Kapai Laksamana |url=https://www.mapesaaceh.com/2018/10/laksamana-wanita-abad-ke-1617-m-bernama.html |access-date=2022-05-11}}</ref>]]{{Islamic Culture}}

Prior to the onset of [[Islamisation]], the [[Pallava script]], Nagari, and old Sumatran scripts were used in writing the Malay language. This is evidenced from the discovery of several stone inscriptions in [[Old Malay]], notably the [[Kedukan Bukit inscription]] and [[Talang Tuo inscription]]. The [[Islam in Southeast Asia|spread of Islam in Southeast Asia]] and the subsequent introduction of Arabic writing system began with the arrival of Muslim merchants in the region since the seventh century. Among the oldest archaeological artefacts inscribed with Arabic script are; a tombstone of Syeikh Rukunuddin dated 48 [[anno hegirae|AH]] (668/669 CE) in Barus, [[Sumatra]]; a tombstone dated 290 AH (910 CE) on the mausoleum of Syeikh Abdul Qadir Ibn Husin Syah Alam located in [[Alor Setar]], [[Kedah]]; a tombstone found in [[Pekan District|Pekan]], [[Pahang]] dated 419 AH (1026 CE); a tombstone discovered in [[Phan Rang]], [[Vietnam]] dated 431 AH (1039 CE); a tombstone dated 440 AH (1048 CE) found in [[Bandar Seri Begawan]], [[Brunei]]; and a tombstone of Fatimah Binti Maimun Bin Hibat Allah found in [[Gresik]], [[East Java]] dated 475 AH (1082 CE).<ref name="Shahrizal">{{cite web |author=Mahpol |first=Shahrizal |year=2002 |title=Penguasaan tulisan jawi di kalangan pelajar Melayu : suatu kajian khusus di UiTM cawangan Kelantan (Competency in Jawi among Malay students: A specific study in UiTM, Kelantan campus) |url=http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/895/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713092647/http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/895/ |archive-date=13 July 2022 |access-date=13 July 2022 |website=UM Students' Repository |publisher=Students' Repository, [[Universiti Malaya]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |author=Abdul Rashid Melebek |author2=Amat Juhari Moain |title=Sejarah Bahasa Melayu (History of Bahasa Melayu) |publisher=Utusan Publications |year=2006|isbn=967-61-1809-5 |pages=52}}</ref> Islam was spread from the coasts to the interior of the island and generally in a top-down process in which rulers were converted and then introduced more or less orthodox versions of Islam to their peoples. The conversion of King [[Sultan Mudzafar Shah I|Phra Ong Mahawangsa]] of [[Kedah Sultanate|Kedah]] in 1136 and King [[Malik ul Salih|Merah Silu]] of [[Samudra Pasai]] in 1267 were among the earliest examples. 

At the early stage of Islamisation, the Arabic script was taught to the people who had newly embraced Islam in the form of religious practices, such as the recitation of [[Quran]] as well as [[salat]]. The Arabic script was accepted by the Malay community together with their acceptance of Islam and was adapted to suit spoken [[Classical Malay]]. Six letters were added for sounds not found in Arabic: ''ca'', ''pa'', ''ga'', ''nga'', ''va'' and ''nya''. Some Arabic letters are rarely used as they represent sounds not present in modern [[Malay language|Malay]] however may be used to reflect the original spelling of Arabic loanwords. The sounds represented by these letters may be assimilated into sounds found in Malay's native phoneme inventory or in some instances appear unchanged. Like the other Arabic scripts, some letters are obligatorily joined while some are never joined.<ref>John U. Wolff, ''Indonesian Readings'' Edition: 3, SEAP Publications: 1988: {{ISBN|0-87727-517-3}}. 480 pages.</ref><ref>Robert Leon Cooper ''Language spread: studies in diffusion and social change'', Center for Applied Linguistics, Indiana University Press,: 1982 p. 40 {{ISBN|0-253-32000-3}}.</ref> This was the same for the acceptance of Arabic writing in [[Turkey]], [[Persia]] and [[India]] which had taken place earlier and thus, the Jawi script was then deemed as the writing of the Muslims.<ref name="siti hawa">{{Cite book |author=Siti Hawa Haji Salleh |title=Malay Literature of the 19th Century |publisher=Institut Terjemahan Negara Malaysia Berhad |year=2010 |isbn=978-983-068-517-5 |pages=8}}</ref>

The oldest remains of Malay using the Jawi script have been found on the [[Terengganu Inscription Stone]], dated 702 [[Islamic calendar|AH]] (1303 CE), nearly 600 years after the date of the first recorded existence of Arabic script in the region. The inscription on the stone contains a proclamation issued by the "Sri Paduka Tuan" of Terengganu, urging his subjects to "extend and uphold" [[Islam]] and providing 10 basic [[Sharia]] laws for their guidance. This has attested the strong observance of the Muslim faith in the early 14th century Terengganu specifically and the [[Malay world]] as a whole.<ref name="Shahrizal"/>

The development of Jawi script was different from that of Pallava writing which was exclusively restricted to the nobility and monks in monasteries. The Jawi script was embraced by the entire Muslim community regardless of class. With the increased intensity in the appreciation of Islam, scriptures originally written in Arabic were translated in Malay and written in the Jawi script. Additionally local religious scholars later began to elucidate the Islamic teachings in the forms of original writings. Moreover, there were also individuals of the community who used Jawi for the writing of literature which previously existed and spread orally. With this inclusion of written literature, [[Classical Malay literature|Malay literature]] took on a more sophisticated form. This was believed to have taken place from the 15th century and lasted right up to the 19th century.<ref name="siti hawa"/> Other forms of Arabic-based scripts existed in the region, notably the [[Pegon alphabet]] used for [[Javanese language|Javanese]] in [[Java]] and the [[Serang alphabet]] used for [[Buginese language|Buginese]] in [[South Sulawesi]]. Both writing systems applied extensive use of [[Arabic diacritics]] and added several letters which were formed differently from Jawi letters to suit the languages. Due to their fairly limited usage, the spelling system of both scripts did not undergo similar advanced developments and modifications as experienced by Jawi.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Matlob |title=Pandai Jawi |publisher=Cerdik Publications |year=2007 |isbn=978-983-70-1054-3 |pages=237–238}}</ref>

==The spread and extent of Jawi script==
{{Writing systems in Indonesia}}The script became prominent with the spread of Islam, supplanting the earlier writing systems. The Malays held the script in high esteem, believing it was a gateway to understanding Islam and its Holy Book, the Quran. The use of Jawi script was a key factor driving the emergence of Malay as the lingua franca of the region.<ref name="autogenerated2007">{{cite web |url=http://www.bt.com.bn/features/2007/09/16/an_overview_of_jawis_origins_in_brunei |title=An overview of Jawi's origin in Brunei |publisher=Brunei Times |date=16 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524112825/http://www.bt.com.bn/features/2007/09/16/an_overview_of_jawis_origins_in_brunei |archive-date=24 May 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> 

[[File:Undang-Undang Melaka.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A copy of ''[[Undang-Undang Melaka]]'' ('Laws of Malacca'). The Malacca system of justice as enshrined in the text was the legal source for other major regional sultanates like [[Johor Sultanate|Johor]], [[Perak]], [[Brunei]], [[Pattani Kingdom|Pattani]], and [[Aceh Sultanate|Aceh]].<ref>{{citation | last = Fauzia | first = Amelia | title = Faith and the State: A History of Islamic Philanthropy in Indonesia | publisher = BRILL | year = 2013 | isbn = 978-90-04-23397-3 |page=81}}</ref><ref>{{citation | last = Abd. Jalil Borham | title = Pengantar Perundangan Islam (An Introduction to Islamic Legislature)| publisher = [[Universiti Teknologi Malaysia]] press | year = 2002 | location=Johor Bahru | isbn = 983-52-0276-1 |page=94}}</ref>]]

Jawi was widely used in the [[Sultanate of Malacca]], [[Sultanate of Johor]], [[Sultanate of Maguindanao]], [[Sultanate of Brunei]], [[Sultanate of Sulu]], [[Sultanate of Pattani]], the [[Sultanate of Aceh]] to the [[Sultanate of Ternate]] in the east as early as the 15th century. It was even used by the Muslim population in [[Manila Bay]], under the pre-colonial state [[Rajahnate of Maynila]] rule in the 15th to 16th centuries, it was used to write [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://ejournal.um.edu.my/index.php/JAT/article/view/16534|title=Letra de Meca: Jawi Script in the Tagalog Region During the 16th Century|journal=Journal of Al-Tamaddun|language=en|year=2019|pages=89–103|first=Isaac|last=Donoso|location=[[San Vicente del Raspeig]]|publisher=[[Universidad de Alicante]]|volume=14|number=1|doi=10.22452/JAT.vol14no1.8|doi-access=free|issn=|hdl=10045/93950|hdl-access=free}}</ref> It was used in royal correspondences, decrees, poems and was widely understood by the merchants in the port of Malacca as the main means of communication. Early legal digests such as the ''[[Undang-Undang Melaka]]'' Code and its derivatives including the Codes of Johor, Perak, Brunei, Kedah, Pattani, and Aceh were written in this script.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

Jawi is a traditional symbol of Malay culture and civilisation, used not only amongst the ruling class, but also the common people. The Islamisation and [[Malayisation]] of the region popularised Jawi into a dominant script.<ref name="autogenerated3">''The Legacy of the Malay Letter'', Annabel Teh Gallop, The British Library and Arkib Negara Malaysia, {{ISBN|978-0-7123-0376-7}}.</ref>

Examples of royal correspondences in Jawi are the letter between Sultan [[Sultanate of Ternate#Lineage|Hayat]] of Ternate and King [[John III of Portugal]] (1521), the letter from Sultan [[Iskandar Muda]] of Acèh Darussalam to King [[James VI and I|James I]] of England (1615), and the letter from Sultan [[Sultan of Johor|Abdul Jalil]] IV of Johor to King [[Louis XV]] of France (1719).<ref name="autogenerated3" /> Many literary works such as epics, poetry and prose use the Jawi script. Historical epics such as the ''[[Malay Annals]]'', as listed by [[UNESCO]] under Memories of the World, are among the countless epics written by the Malay people. The [[Sufi]]c poems by [[Hamzah Fansuri]] and many others contributed to the richness and depth of the Malay civilisation.{{Peacock inline|date=December 2024}}

Jawi script was the official script for the [[Unfederated Malay States]] when they were British protectorates.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Preserving heritage through jawi lesson |url=https://katamalaysia.my/culture/preserving-heritage-through-jawi-lesson/ |access-date=2026-01-12 |website=Kata Malaysia |language=en-US}}</ref> The growth of the printing industry in early 20th century Malaysia saw the development of a wide range of Jawi literature. The primary topics of Jawi books were religious and political. From the 1940s to the 1960s, [[erotica]] ({{lang|ms|picisan}}) began to be printed in Jawi, although many authors later switched to Rumi.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://glamlelaki.my/glam-lelaki-gaya-hidup/13887/ |title=Erotika Melayu |author=Nazir Harith Fadzilah |publisher=Glamlelaki |date=2017 |access-date=26 December 2024 |language=ms}}</ref> A 1954 meeting of the {{ill|Kongres Bahasa|ms|Kongres Bahasa dan Persuratan Melayu}} saw Rumi officially adopted as a Malay script alongside Jawi in the [[Federation of Malaya]], and government policy over the next few decades favoured Rumi in education, resulting in Jawi literacy becoming less common. Jawi was removed from the national curriculum in the mid-1980s.<ref name="Mulaika2021">{{cite web |url=https://www.newmandala.org/jawi-identity-and-controversy/ |title=Jawi: identity and controversy |author=Mulaika Hijjas |publisher=New Mandala |date=20 July 2021 |access-date=26 December 2024}}</ref> 

As the public educational system stopped producing Jawi texts, Jawi literature printed by private companies became dominant. Most privately produced Jawi textbooks were targeted at Islamic schools, and their contents were more conservative than in the former public school textbooks. This shift in usage led to Jawi becoming closely associated with Islam and Malay identity, with Rumi replacing its use for non-religious purposes. Over time, the use of Jawi in Malaysia became a sensitive issue. Some view attempts to promote Jawi as Islamisation or [[Ketuanan Melayu|Malay chauvinism]]. Conversely, some view Jawi as a religious script that should not be used by non-Muslims.<ref name="Mulaika2021"/>

==Jawi today==
[[File:Sign of Jalan Tasik Kenyir U4-20 in Seksyen U4 Shah Alam 20231104 115926.jpg|thumb|Street name signs in [[Shah Alam]], Malaysia, include both Jawi and Latin script]]
[[File:201906 Jalan Tanjung Puteri street sign.jpg|thumb|A similarly biscriptal street sign in Johor Bahru]]
[[File:Supa Save (Panaga).jpg|thumb|A supermarket in Brunei with Jawi and Latin script]]
[[File:Ade Irma Suryani St.JPG|thumb|Street name signs in [[Pekanbaru]], [[Riau]], Indonesia, used both Jawi and Latin script.]]

Today, Jawi is one of the official scripts of [[Languages of Brunei|Brunei]]<ref name="autogenerated2007"/> In Malaysia, it is used for religious and cultural administration in the states of [[Terengganu]], [[Kelantan]], [[Kedah]], [[Perlis]], [[Penang]], [[Pahang]] and [[Johor]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2016}} Various efforts were in place to revive the Jawi script in Malaysia and Brunei due to its role in the Malay and Islamic spheres. Jawi is also seen on the reverse of [[Malaysian ringgit]] and [[Brunei dollar]] banknotes. Malays in [[Pattani Province|Patani]] still use Jawi today for the same reasons.{{Citation needed|date=June 2016}}

Despite its decline in usage, Malay in Jawi script is available as a language option on some technology platforms and video games developed outside of Malaysia, including [[MediaWiki]]<ref name="translation statistics">{{Cite web |date=2023-08-20 |title=Message group statistics: MediaWiki core |url=https://translatewiki.net/wiki/Special:MessageGroupStats?group=core&messages=&suppressempty=1&x=D#sortable:3=desc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820231524/https://translatewiki.net/wiki/Special:MessageGroupStats?group=core&messages=&suppressempty=1&x=D |archive-date=2023-08-20 |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=translatewiki.net |quote=488 languages (not including languages that are supported but have no translations)}}</ref> (United States), and [[Minecraft]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karim |first=Ahmad Ali A. |date=2025-08-09 |title=Bila dunia mengiktiraf Jawi, mengapa kita masih ragu? |url=https://www.utusan.com.my/rencana/2025/08/bila-dunia-mengiktiraf-jawi-mengapa-kita-masih-ragu/ |access-date=2025-08-09 |website=Utusan Malaysia |language=ms-MY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFrL3TTZD7g |title=What's New in Minecraft 1.19 Pre-release 4? New Language! |date=2022-05-30 |last=slicedlime |access-date=2025-08-09 |via=YouTube}}</ref> (Sweden).

=== In Malaysia ===
In August 2019, the Malaysian Government's plans to introduce the teaching of Jawi at the most basic level in ethnic [[Education in Malaysia#School types and medium of instruction|Chinese]] and [[Tamil primary schools in Malaysia|Tamil vernacular schools]] attracted opposition from ethnic Chinese and Indian education groups, which claimed that the move would lead to an [[Islamization]] of the Malaysian education system.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Babulal |first1=Veena |title=Teaching of Jawi in vernacular schools to proceed, subject to PTA consent |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/08/512825/teaching-jawi-vernacular-schools-proceed-subject-pta-consent |access-date=4 January 2020 |work=[[New Straits Times]] |date=14 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Malaysia's educationists against teaching of jawi calligraphy in vernacular schools as controversy rages |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-khat-jawi-calligraphy-vernacular-schools-chinese-tamil-11782604?cid=h3_referral_inarticlelinks_24082018_cna%3Fcid%3Dh3_referral_inarticlelinks_24082018_cna |access-date=4 January 2020 |work=[[Channel News Asia]] |date=5 August 2019 |archive-date=19 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919155305/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-khat-jawi-calligraphy-vernacular-schools-chinese-tamil-11782604?cid=h3_referral_inarticlelinks_24082018_cna%3Fcid%3Dh3_referral_inarticlelinks_24082018_cna |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sukumaran |first1=Tashny |title=Chinese dissent in Malaysia over Jawi script in schools raises alarm in Mahathir's government |url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3043399/chinese-dissent-malaysia-over-jawi-script-schools-raises-alarm |access-date=4 January 2020 |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |date=24 December 2019}}</ref> The Chinese educationist group [[Dong Jiao Zong]] organised a conference calling on the Malaysian Government to rescind its decision in late December 2019. Perhaps fearing violence, the [[Royal Malaysia Police]] obtained a court injunction against it on the grounds it would trigger ethnic tensions.<ref>{{cite news |title=Court order obtained to stop anti-Jawi gathering in Malaysia |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-police-court-order-anti-jawi-congress-12215654 |access-date=4 January 2020 |work=[[Channel News Asia]] |date=27 December 2019 |archive-date=4 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104050448/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-police-court-order-anti-jawi-congress-12215654 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The prawn behind the rock: Enthusiasm for an archaic script frightens Malaysia's minorities |newspaper=The Economist |date=9 January 2020 |issue=11 January 2020 |page=32 |url=https://www.economist.com/asia/2020/01/09/enthusiasm-for-an-archaic-script-frightens-malaysias-minorities |access-date=15 February 2020}}</ref>

The state government of Kedah in Malaysia has long defended the use of Jawi in the state.<ref name="kedahmb"/><ref name="kedahbillboard"/><ref name="kedahsupportjohor"/> The [[Menteri Besar]] of Kedah has denied the allegation that the state government was trying to create an Islamic state ambience by promoting the use of Jawi in 2008, saying that it is a normal occurrence evidenced by Chinese coffeeshops and pawnshops having signboards written in Jawi.<ref name="kedahmb">{{cite news |title=Kedah MB defends use of Jawi on signboards |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2008/08/26/kedah-mb-defends-use-of-jawi-on-signboards |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] |date=26 August 2008}}</ref> This can further be seen later on when the Kedah state government has shown its support with Johor state government's move to use Jawi in official matters in 2019.<ref name="kedahsupportjohor">{{cite news |author=Mohd Noor Aswad |title=Kedah supports use of Jawi in official dealings |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/09/518043/kedah-supports-use-jawi-official-dealings |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=[[New Straits Times]] |date=2 September 2019}}</ref> The exco of local authority of the state of Kedah had also stated that the Jawi script in billboards in Kedah is not forbidden, but rather recommended.<ref name="kedahbillboard"/> He claims that the recommendation to use Jawi script has been gazetted in the state law, and that it has been part of the state identity to have billboards in Jawi script in addition to other scripts.<ref name="kedahbillboard"/> He also stated that there are high demands in incorporating Jawi script in billboards in Kedah.<ref name="kedahbillboard">{{cite news |last1=Hashim |first1=Roslinda |title=Kedah galak papan iklan tulisan jawi |url=https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/62885/EDISI/Utara/Kedah-galak-papan-iklan-tulisan-jawi |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=[[Sinar Harian]] |date=21 December 2019}}</ref>

[[Kuantan]], the state capital of Pahang in Malaysia has introduced the usage of Jawi on all signage across the city from 1 August 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tajuddin |first1=Siti Insyirah |title=Kuantan to introduce Jawi signages from Aug 1 |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/04/480675/kuantan-introduce-jawi-signages-aug-1 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=[[New Straits Times]] |date=18 April 2019}}</ref> This was done after a recommendation from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who was then the Regent of Pahang, to uphold usage of the writing system.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lim |first1=Ida |title=Kuantan to use Jawi in road signs from 2019 |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2018/11/26/kuantan-to-use-jawi-in-road-signs-from-2019/1697066 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=[[Malay Mail]] |date=26 November 2018}}</ref> The Pahang state government has since expanded the order and made it mandatory for every signage statewide including road signs to display Jawi alongside other scripts from 1 January 2020 after being delayed a few times.<ref>{{cite news |title=No extension for use of Jawi on signage in Pahang |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2019/11/23/no-extension-for-use-of-jawi-on-signage-in-pahang |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] |date=23 December 2019}}</ref> Premises that fail to comply with this order will be fined up to a maximum of RM250, with the possibility of revocation of their business licences if they still do not comply afterwards.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pahang govt: Firm action to be taken against business premise owners who fail to use jawi signage |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2019/12/31/pahang-govt-firm-action-to-be-taken-against-business-premise-owners-who-fai/1823576 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=[[Malay Mail]] |date=31 December 2019}}</ref> In the early stage, usage of Jawi stickers are allowed to put on existing signage instead of replacing the whole signage.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alagesh |first1=T.N. |title=Jawi signage in Pahang: Stickers allowed, for now |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/01/554336/jawi-signage-pahang-stickers-allowed-now |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=[[New Straits Times]] |date=7 January 2020}}</ref>

In [[Johor]], the test required to become a lawyer in a [[Syariah Court]] is written in Jawi. A lack of Jawi literacy is thought to be a contributing factor to a lack of Syariah lawyers in the state.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/03/22/poor-jawi-literacy-leads-to-lack-of-syariah-lawyers |title=Poor Jawi literacy leads to lack of syariah lawyers |author=Mohd Farhaan Shah |work=The Star |date=22 Mar 2023 |access-date=26 December 2024}}</ref>

=== In Indonesia ===
{{Further|Acehnese_orthography#Jawoe|label1=Jawoe script}}
Indonesia, having multiple regional and native languages, uses the Latin script for writing its [[Indonesian language|own standard of Malay]] in general. Nonetheless, the Jawi script does have a regional status in [[Malay Indonesian|native Malay areas]] such as [[Riau]], [[Riau Islands Province|Riau archipelago]], [[Jambi]], [[South Sumatra]] (i.e [[Palembang language|Palembang Malay language]]), [[Aceh]], and [[Kalimantan]] (i.e. [[Banjar language]]).<ref name="riaudailyphoto.com">{{in lang|id}} [http://www.riaudailyphoto.com/2012/02/tulisan-arab-melayu-bagian-dari.html TULISAN ARAB MELAYU BAGIAN DARI KHAZANAH BUDAYA RIAU].</ref><ref>Bagian Kesenian Bara Ai Kesusasteraan Indonesia Catatan-Catatan Tentang Amir Hamza:Bagian Kesenian Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, Yogyakarta: 1955.</ref> This is due to the fact that regional and native languages are compulsory studies in the basic education curriculum of each region (examples include [[Javanese language|Javanese]] for Javanese regions, [[Sundanese language|Sundanese]] for Sundanese regions, [[Madurese language|Madurese]] for Maduranese regions, and Jawi for Malay regions).<ref name="riaudailyphoto.com"/> Jawi script is widely used in Riau and Riau Island province, where road signs and government building signs are written in this script.<ref>{{cite act |type=Governor Regulation |index=46 |date=2018 |legislature=Governor of Riau Province |title=Peraturan Gubernur Riau Nomor 46 Tahun 2018 Tentang Penerapan Muatan Budaya Melayu Riau Di Ruang Umum |trans-title= |url=https://jdihn.go.id/files/224/Pergub_No_46_Tahun_2018_S.PDF |language=id}}</ref> A sister variant called [[Pegon script|Pegon]] is used to write Javanese, Sundanese, and Madurese and is still widely used in traditional religious schools across [[Java]], but has been supplanted in common writing by the [[Latin alphabet]] and, in some cases, [[Javanese script]] and [[Sundanese script]].

==Letters==
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Jawi alphabet<ref>Daftar Kata Bahasa Melayu Rumi-Sebutan-Jawi, Dewan Bahasa Pustaka,
5th printing, 2006.</ref>
|-
!Name
!Isolated
!Final
!Medial
!Initial
!Sound represented
!Rumi equivalent
!Notes
!Unicode
|-
|''alif''<br>{{Script|Arab|اليف}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ا}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـا}}</span>
|
|
|{{IPA|/a/}} or {{IPA|/ə/}}
|a, e- ''pepet'' (ĕ)
|Also represent the digit "1"
|U+0627
|-
|''ba''<br>{{Script|Arab|باء}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ب}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـب}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـبـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|بـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/b/}}
|b
|
|U+0628
|-
|''ta''<br>{{Script|Arab|تاء}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ت}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـت}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـتـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|تـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/t/}}
|t
|
|U+062A
|-
|''ta marbutah''<br>{{Script|Arab|تاء مربوطة}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ة}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـة}}</span>
|
|
|{{IPA|/t/}} or {{IPA|/h/}}
| -t, -h
|Mainly used in Arabic loanwords
|U+0629
|-
|''sa (tha)''<br>{{Script|Arab|ثاء}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ث}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـث}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـثـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ثـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/s/}} or {{IPA|/θ/}}
|s
|Mainly used in Arabic loanwords
|U+062B
|-
|''jim''<br>{{Script|Arab|جيم}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ج}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـج}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـجـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|جـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/d͡ʒ/}}
|j
|
|U+062C
|-
|''ca''<br>{{Script|Arab|چا}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|چ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـچ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـچـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|چـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/t͡ʃ/}}
|c
|Additional letter not present in Arabic
Similar to Persian "چ" (Che)
|U+0686
|-
|''ha''<br>{{Script|Arab|حاء}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ح}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـح}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـحـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|حـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/h/}} or {{IPA|/ħ/}}
|h
|Also known as ''ha kecil'' ({{Script|Arab|حاء کچيل‎}}) or ''ha pedas'' ({{Script|Arab|حاء ڤدس‎}})<br>Mainly used in Arabic loanwords
|U+062D
|-
|''kha (khO)''<br>{{Script|Arab|خاء}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|خ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـخ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـخـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|خـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/x/}}
|kh
|Mainly used in Arabic loanwords
|U+062E
|-
|''dal''<br>{{Script|Arab|دل}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|د}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـد}}</span>
|
|
|{{IPA|/d/}}
|d
|
|U+062F
|-
|''zal''<br>{{Script|Arab|ذال}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ذ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـذ}}</span>
|
|
|{{IPA|/z/}} or {{IPA|/ð/}}
|z
|Mainly used in Arabic loanwords
|U+0630
|-
|''ra (rO)''<br>{{Script|Arab|راء}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ر}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـر}}</span>
|
|
|{{IPA|/r/}}
|r
|
|U+0631
|-
|''zai''<br>{{Script|Arab|زاي}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ز}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـز}}</span>
|
|
|{{IPA|/z/}}
|z
|Mainly used in loanwords of European origin
|U+0632
|-
|''sin''<br>{{Script|Arab|سين}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|س}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـس}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـسـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|سـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/s/}}
|s
|
|U+0633
|-
|''syin''<br>{{Script|Arab|شين}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ش}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـش}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـشـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|شـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/ʃ/}}
|sy, sh
|Mainly used in loanwords of European origin
|U+0634
|-
|''sad (sOd)''<br>{{Script|Arab|صاد}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ص}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـص}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـصـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|صـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/s/}}
|s
|Mainly used in Arabic loanwords
|U+0635
|-
|''dad (dOd)''<br>{{Script|Arab|ضاد}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ض}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـض}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـضـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ضـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/d/}}
|d
|Mainly used in Arabic loanwords
|U+0636
|-
|''ta (tO)''<br>{{Script|Arab|طاء}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ط}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـط}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـطـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|طـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/ð/}}
|t
|Mainly used in Arabic loanwords
|U+0637
|-
|''za (zO)''<br>{{Script|Arab|ظاء}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ظ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـظ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـظـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ظـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/z/}}
|z
|Mainly used in Arabic loanwords
|U+0638
|-
|''ain''<br>{{Script|Arab|عين}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ع}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـع}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـعـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|عـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/ʔ/}}
|a, i, u, -k
|Mainly used in Arabic loanwords
|U+0639
|-
|''ghain''<br>{{Script|Arab|غين}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|غ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـغ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـغـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|غـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/ɣ/}}
|gh
|Mainly used in Arabic loanwords
|U+063A
|-
|''nga''<br>{{Script|Arab|ڠا}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ڠ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـڠ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـڠـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ڠـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/ŋ/}}
|ng
|Additional letter not present in Arabic
|U+06A0
|-
|''fa''<br>{{Script|Arab|فاء}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ف}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـف}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـفـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|فـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/f/}}
|f
|Mainly used in loanwords of European origin
|U+0641
|-
|''pa''<br>{{Script|Arab|ڤا}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ڤ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـڤ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـڤـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ڤـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/p/}}
|p
|Additional letter not present in Arabic
Similar to Persian "پ" (Pe) in pronunciation
|U+06A4
|-
|''qaf''<br>{{Script|Arab|قاف}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ق}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـق}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـقـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|قـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/q/}} or {{IPA|/k/}}
|q, k
|
|U+0642
|-
|''kaf''<br>{{Script|Arab|کاف}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ک}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـک}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـکـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|کـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/k/}}
|k
|
|U+06A9
|-
|''ga''<br>{{Script|Arab|ݢا}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ݢ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـݢ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـݢـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ݢـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/ɡ/}}
|g
|Additional letter not present in Arabic
Similar to Persian "گ" (Gaf)
|U+0762
|-
|''lam''<br>{{Script|Arab|لام}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ل}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـل}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـلـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|لـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/l/}}
|l
|
|U+0644
|-
|''mim''<br>{{Script|Arab|ميم}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|م}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـم}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـمـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|مـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/m/}}
|m
|
|U+0645
|-
|''nun''<br>{{Script|Arab|نون}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ن}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـن}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـنـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|نـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/n/}}
|n
|
|U+0646
|-
|''wau''<br>{{Script|Arab|واو}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|و}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـو}}</span>
|
|
|{{IPA|/w/}} and {{IPA|/u, o, ɔ/}}
|w, u, o
|
|U+0648
|-
|''va''<br>{{Script|Arab|ۏا}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ۏ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـۏ}}</span>
|
|
|{{IPA|/v/}}
|v
|Additional letter not present in Arabic<br>Mainly used in loanwords of European origin
|U+06CF
|-
|''ha''<br>{{Script|Arab|هاء}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ه}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـه}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـهـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|هـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/h/}}
|h
|Also known as ''ha besar'' ({{Script|Arab|هاء بسر}}) or ''ha simpul'' ({{Script|Arab|هاء سيمڤول}})
|U+0647
|-
|''hamzah''<br>{{Script|Arab|همزة}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ء}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ء}}</span>
|
|
|{{IPA|/ʔ/}}
|∅
|
|U+0621
|-
|''ya''<br>{{Script|Arab|ياء}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ي}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـي}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـيـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|يـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/j/}} and {{IPA|/i, e, ɛ/}}
|y, i, e ''taling'' (é)
|
|U+064A
|-
|''ye''<br>{{Script|Arab|يى}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ى}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـى}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـىـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ىـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/ə, a/}}
| -e ''pepet'' (ĕ), a
|Also known as ''alif maqsurah'' ({{Script|Arab|الف مقصورة}})<br>Mainly used in loanwords of European origin
|U+0649
|-
|''nya''<br>{{Script|Arab|ڽا}}
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ڽ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـڽ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ـڽـ}}</span>
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script|Arab|ڽـ}}</span>
|{{IPA|/ɲ/}}
|ny
|Additional letter not present in Arabic
|U+06BD
|}

* Letters with no initial and middle forms adopt either isolated or final form, because they cannot be joined with suffixing letter. ({{script/Arabic|ا}}, {{script/Arabic|د}}, {{script/Arabic|ذ}}, {{script/Arabic|ر}}, {{script/Arabic|ز}}, {{script/Arabic|و}}, {{script/Arabic|ۏ}})
* The letter ''hamzah'' may also appear in its [[Hamza#Jawi script|three-quarter form]] "{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter|4.5}}" (''hamzah tiga suku''), above ''alif'' "أ", below ''alif'' "إ" or housed (above ''ya'' "ئ" or ''wau'' "ؤ").[[Jawi alphabet#endnote e|<sup>[e]</sup>]]

===Spelling===
Modern Jawi spelling is based on the {{lang|ms|Daftar Kata Bahasa Melayu (DKBM): Rumi-Sebutan-Jawi}} dictionary. Older texts may use different spellings for some words.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Che Wan Shamsul Bahri bin Che Wan Ahmad |author2=Khairuddin bin Omar |author3=Mohammad Faidzul bin Nasrudin |author4=Mohd Zamri bin Murah |author5=Khirulnizam Abd Rahman |title=Comparative Study Between Old and Modern Jawi Spelling: Case Study on Kitab Hidayah al-Salikin |url=https://www.academia.edu/2457882 |website=Researchgate.net |publisher=K. Abd Rahman |access-date=17 January 2016}}</ref> Nonetheless, even different modern sources<ref>such as {{cite web |title=Portal Rasmi Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia |url=http://www.pnm.gov.my/index.php/pages/view/239 |website=Nota Klinik Jawi Peringkat Lanjutan 2014 |access-date=16 January 2016}}</ref> may use different spelling conventions; they may differ especially in the usage of the [[mater lectionis|matres lectionis]] ({{lang|ms|alif}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ا}}, {{lang|ms|wau}} {{lang|ms-Arab|و}} and {{lang|ms|ya}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ي}}) and the {{lang|ms|[[Hamza#Jawi script|hamzah tiga suku]]}} {{lang|ms-Arab|{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter|4.5}}}}, as well as in the spelling of vowels and consonant clusters in loanwords from [[English language|English]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2016}} One source<ref>{{cite web |title=Jawi @ Arabic Converter |url=http://www.ejawi.net/v3/index?e=converter |website=Ejawi.net |access-date=16 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212400/http://www.ejawi.net/v3/index?e=converter |archive-date= 3 March 2016}}</ref> tends to use the following conventions;<ref>{{cite web |title=Klinik Jawi di Radio IKIM.fm – Tutorial |url=http://www.ejawi.net/v3/index?e=tutorial&a=kandungan&kategori&lihatID=48&show=1 |website=Ejawi.net |access-date=16 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609222055/http://www.ejawi.net/v3/index?e=tutorial&a=kandungan&kategori&lihatID=48&show=1 |archive-date=9 June 2016}}</ref> there are numerous exceptions to them nonetheless.

* [[List of loanwords in Malay|Loanwords]] may be spelled differently. Particularly, loanwords from [[Arabic language|Arabic]] often keep their original spellings.

: The letters {{lang|ms|sa}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ث}}, {{lang|ms|ha}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ح}}, {{lang|ms|kha}} {{lang|ms-Arab|خ}}, {{lang|ms|zal}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ذ}}, {{lang|ms|sad}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ص}}, {{lang|ms|dad}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ض}}, {{lang|ms|ta}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ط}}, {{lang|ms|za}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ظ}}, {{lang|ms|ain}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ع}}, {{lang|ms|ghain}} {{lang|ms-Arab|غ}}, and {{lang|ms|ta marbutah}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ة}} are mostly used to spell Arabic loanwords, e.g., {{lang|ms|Selasa}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ثلاث}}, {{lang|ms|huruf}} {{lang|ms-Arab|حروف}}, {{lang|ms|khabar}} {{lang|ms-Arab|خبر}}, {{lang|ms|fasal}} {{lang|ms-Arab|فصل}}, {{lang|ms|darurat}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ضرورة}}, {{lang|ms|talak}} {{lang|ms-Arab|طلاق}}, {{lang|ms|zohor}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ظهر}}, {{lang|ms|saat}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ساعة}}, {{lang|ms|sunat}} {{lang|ms-Arab|سنة}}, {{lang|ms|khasiat}} {{lang|ms-Arab|خصية}}. The letter {{lang|ms|va}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ۏ}} is mostly used to spell English loanwords, e.g., {{lang|ms|universiti}} {{lang|ms-Arab|اونيۏرسيتي}}. The letters {{lang|ms|zai}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ز}}, {{lang|ms|syin}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ش}}, {{lang|ms|fa}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ف}}, and {{lang|ms|ye}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ى}} are mostly used to spell loanwords from English, Arabic or Dutch, e.g., {{lang|ms|zoo}} {{lang|ms-Arab|زو}}, {{lang|ms|zapin}} {{lang|ms-Arab|زاڤين}}, {{lang|ms|syif}} {{lang|ms-Arab|شيف}}, {{lang|ms|syukur}} {{lang|ms-Arab|شکور}}, {{lang|ms|filem}} {{lang|ms-Arab|فيلم}}, {{lang|ms|fakir}} {{lang|ms-Arab|فقير}}, {{lang|ms|nasionalisme}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ناسيوناليسمى}}, and {{lang|ms|takwa}} {{lang|ms-Arab|تقوى}}.

: The letter {{lang|ms|x}}, used to spell loanwords from English, may be spelled using different Jawi letters, depending on pronunciation, e.g., disjointed {{lang|ms|kaf-sin}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ک‌س}} in {{lang|ms|sinaran X}} {{lang|ms-Arab|سينرن ايک‌س}} or {{lang|ms|zai}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ز}} in {{lang|ms|xenon}} {{lang|ms-Arab|زينون}}.

: The letter {{lang|ms|syin}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ش}} is also used to represent {{angbr|sh}} especially for words derived from [[Classical Malay]], e.g., {{lang|ms-Arab|مهاريشي}} {{lang|ms|maharishi}}; and loanwords, e.g., {{lang|ms-Arab|شيرڤا}} {{lang|ms|Sherpa}}.

: Native Malay root morphemes with Rumi {{lang|ms|k}} in the syllable coda are [[glottal stop]]s (pronounced {{IPAblink|ʔ}}) and are written with {{lang|ms|qaf}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ق}}, e.g., {{lang|ms|tengok}} {{lang|ms-Arab|تيڠوق}}, {{lang|ms|laksa}} {{lang|ms-Arab|لقسا}}, {{lang|ms|baiklah}} {{lang|ms-Arab|با{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter|4.5}}يقله}}, {{lang|ms|kotakku}} {{lang|ms-Arab|کوتقکو}}, {{lang|ms|kotakmu}} {{lang|ms-Arab|کوتقمو}}. Loanwords where the Rumi {{lang|ms|k}} is derived from Western languages are spelled with {{lang|ms|kaf}}: the initial and medial forms use the glyph {{lang|ms-Arab|ک}}, e.g., {{lang|ms|klinik}} {{lang|ms-Arab|کلينيک}} and {{lang|ms|teksi}} {{lang|ms-Arab|تيکسي}}; the final {{lang|ms|k}} form dominantly uses {{lang|ms-Arab|ک}} over {{lang|ms-Arab|ك}}, although the latter Arabic glyph is alternatively found often in some old writings and signages (e.g. variant spelling of {{lang|ms|klinik}} as {{lang|ms-Arab|کلينيك}}). The final {{lang|ms-Arab|ك}} is also preserved in Arabic-derived aforementioned loans including special nouns like {{lang|ms-Arab|ملك}} ''[[Malik]]''.

: The letter {{lang|ms|fa}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ف}} was historically used to represent {{IPAslink|p}} (Jawi: {{lang|ms|pa}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ڤ}}) and such usage may still be found in archaic literature. This is because {{IPAslink|f}} is a non-native consonant in Malay found only in loanwords thus was often approximated as a {{IPA|/p/}}.

* Though there are exceptions,{{ref|a|[a]}} vowels and diphthongs tend to be spelled this way:
{| class="wikitable"
!rowspan="2"| [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]
!rowspan="2"|
!colspan="2"| First letter of a root morpheme
!colspan="2"| Middle of a root morpheme, in an open syllable
!colspan="2"| Middle of a root morpheme, in a closed syllable
!colspan="2"| Last letter of a root morpheme
|-
! Rumi || Jawi || Rumi || Jawi || Rumi || Jawi || Rumi || Jawi
|-
|rowspan="2"| {{IPA|/a/}}, {{IPAblink|ə}} in open final syllables of root morphemes, or in the [[penult]] if followed by {{IPA|/h/}}, e.g., in {{lang|ms|usaha}}
! Spelling
|  {{lang|ms|a}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ا}}{{ref|b|[b]}} || {{lang|ms|a}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـا}}{{ref|b|[b]}} || {{lang|ms|a}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـا}} or omitted{{ref|b|[b]}}{{ref|c|[c]}} || {{lang|ms|a}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـا}} or omitted{{ref|b|[b]}}{{ref|c|[c]}}
|-

! Example
| {{lang|ms|abu}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ابو}} || {{lang|ms|cari}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|چاري}} || {{lang|ms|sampan, wang}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|سمڤن, واڠ}} || {{lang|ms|cuba, hanya}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|چوبا, هاڽ}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| {{IPAslink|e}} mostly, {{IPAslink|ɛ}} in some words, i.e., {{lang|ms|e-taling}}
! Spelling
| {{lang|ms|[[New Rumi Spelling#Removal of diacritics|e]] ([[Republican Spelling System|é]])}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ايـ}}{{ref|b|[b]}} || {{lang|ms|e (é)}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـيـ}}{{ref|b|[b]}} || {{lang|ms|e (é)}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـيـ}}{{ref|b|[b]}} || {{lang|ms|e (é)}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـي}}{{ref|b|[b]}}
|-

! Example
| {{lang|ms|ekor}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ايکور}} || {{lang|ms|tengok}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|تيڠوق}} || {{lang|ms|rendang}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ريندڠ}} || {{lang|ms|sate}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ساتي}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| {{IPA|/ə/}}, i.e., {{lang|ms|e-pepet}}
! Spelling
| {{lang|ms|[[New Rumi Spelling#Removal of diacritics|e]] (ĕ)}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ا}}{{ref|b|[b]}} || {{lang|ms|e (ĕ)}} || (omitted){{ref|b|[b]}} || {{lang|ms|e (ĕ)}} || (omitted){{ref|b|[b]}} || {{lang|ms|e (ĕ)}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـى}},{{ref|d|[d]}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ـا}}{{ref|b|[b]}}
|-

! Example
| {{lang|ms|empat}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|امڤت}} || {{lang|ms|bersih}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|برسيه}} || {{lang|ms|sempit}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|سمڤيت}} || {{lang|ms|nasionalisme, memetabolismekan}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ناسيوناليسمى, ممتابوليسماکن}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| {{IPAslink|i}}, {{IPAblink|e}} in closed final syllables of root morphemes
! Spelling
|  {{lang|ms|i}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ايـ}}{{ref|b|[b]}} || {{lang|ms|i}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـيـ}}{{ref|b|[b]}} || {{lang|ms|i}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـيـ}}{{ref|b|[b]}} || {{lang|ms|i}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـي}}
|-

! Example
| {{lang|ms|ibu}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ايبو}} || {{lang|ms|tiga}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|تيݢ}} || {{lang|ms|hampir}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|همڤير}} || {{lang|ms|kiri}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|کيري}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| {{IPAslink|o}} mostly, {{IPAslink|ɔ}} in some words
! Spelling
|  {{lang|ms|o}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|او}}{{ref|b|[b]}} || {{lang|ms|o}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـو}}{{ref|b|[b]}} || {{lang|ms|o}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـو}}{{ref|b|[b]}} || {{lang|ms|o}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـو}}{{ref|b|[b]}}
|-
! Example
| {{lang|ms|obor}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|اوبور}} || {{lang|ms|bola}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|بولا}} || {{lang|ms|esok}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ايسوق}} || {{lang|ms|soto}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|سوتو}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| {{IPAslink|u}}, {{IPAblink|o}} in closed final syllables of root morphemes
! Spelling
|  {{lang|ms|u}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|او}}{{ref|b|[b]}} || {{lang|ms|u}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـو}}{{ref|b|[b]}} || {{lang|ms|u}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـو}}{{ref|b|[b]}} || {{lang|ms|u}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـو}}{{ref|b|[b]}}
|-
! Example
| {{lang|ms|ubi}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|اوبي}} || {{lang|ms|rugi}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|روݢي}} || {{lang|ms|tun}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|تون}} || {{lang|ms|biru}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|بيرو}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| {{IPAslink|ai̯}}
! Spelling
|  {{lang|ms|ai}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}يـ}}{{ref|e|[e]}} || {{lang|ms|ai}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـايـ}} || {{lang|ms|ai}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}يـ}} || {{lang|ms|ai}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـاي}}
|-
! Example
| {{lang|ms|aiskrim}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}يسکريم}} || {{lang|ms|baiduri}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|بايدوري}} || {{lang|ms|sait}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|سا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}يت}} || {{lang|ms|ramai}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|راماي}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| {{IPAslink|au̯}}
! Spelling
|  {{lang|ms|au}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}و}}{{ref|e|[e]}} || {{lang|ms|au}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـاو}} || {{lang|ms|au}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}و}} || {{lang|ms|au}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـاو}}
|-

! Example
| {{lang|ms|aur}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}ور}} || {{lang|ms|sauna}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ساونا}} || {{lang|ms|taun}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|تا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}ون}} || {{lang|ms|pulau}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ڤولاو}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| {{IPAslink|oi̯}}
! Spelling
|  {{lang|ms|oi}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|اوويـ}} || {{lang|ms|oi}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـويـ}} || {{lang|ms|oi}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـو{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}يـ}} || {{lang|ms|oi}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ـوي}}
|-

! Example
| {{lang|ms|oidium}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|اوويديوم}} || {{lang|ms|boikot}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|بويکوت}} || {{lang|ms|eksploit}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|ايکسڤلو{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}يت}} || {{lang|ms|sepoi}} || {{lang|ms-Arab|سڤوي}}
|-
|}

{{refbegin}}
* {{note|a|a}} When spelling vowels, there are many exceptions to the conventions stated above and below. Common exceptions include {{lang|ms|ada}} {{lang|ms-Arab|اد}}, {{lang|ms|di}} {{lang|ms-Arab|د}}, {{lang|ms|dia}} {{lang|ms-Arab|دي}}, {{lang|ms|dan}} {{lang|ms-Arab|دان}}, {{lang|ms|ia}} {{lang|ms-Arab|اي}}, {{lang|ms|jika}} {{lang|ms-Arab|جک}}, {{lang|ms|juga}} {{lang|ms-Arab|جوݢ}}, {{lang|ms|lima}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ليم}}, {{lang|ms|ke}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ک}}, {{lang|ms|kita}} {{lang|ms-Arab|کيت}}, {{lang|ms|mereka}} {{lang|ms-Arab|مريک}}, {{lang|ms|ini}} {{lang|ms-Arab|اين}}, {{lang|ms|itu}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ايت}}, {{lang|ms|pada}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ڤد}}, {{lang|ms|suka}} {{lang|ms-Arab|سوک}}, and {{lang|ms|tiga}} {{lang|ms-Arab|تيݢ}}.
* {{note|b|b}} Some words spelled distinctly in Rumi may be [[homographs]] in Jawi, e.g., {{lang|ms|sembilan}} and {{lang|ms|sambilan}} are both {{lang|ms-Arab|سمبيلن}}, {{lang|ms|markah}} and {{lang|ms|merekah}} are both {{lang|ms-Arab|مرکه}}, {{lang|ms|sesi}} and {{lang|ms|sisi}} are both {{lang|ms-Arab|سيسي}}, {{lang|ms|biro}} and {{lang|ms|biru}} are both {{lang|ms-Arab|بيرو}}, {{lang|ms|borong}} and {{lang|ms|burung}} are both {{lang|ms-Arab|بوروڠ}}, and {{lang|ms|golong}} and {{lang|ms|gulung}} are both {{lang|ms-Arab|ݢولوڠ}}.
* {{note|c|c}} Using or omitting {{lang|ms|alif}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ا}} when representing {{IPA|/a/}} in closed syllables and in the last letter of a root morpheme:

: When representing {{IPA|/a/}}, {{lang|ms|alif}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ا}} is mostly omitted in [[Consonant|C]][[Vowel|V]][[Consonant|C]]-syllables.

: However, it is usually not omitted in monosyllabic words that start with {{lang|ms|wau}} {{lang|ms-Arab|و}}, e.g., {{lang|ms|wau}} {{lang|ms-Arab|واو}}, {{lang|ms|wap}} {{lang|ms-Arab|واڤ}}, {{lang|ms|wang}} {{lang|ms-Arab|واڠ}}.

: It is also usually not omitted in root morphemes which first syllable is open and contains {{IPA|/e/}} and which second syllable is closed and begins with {{IPA|/wa/}}, e.g., words with a /Ce.waC/ structure (where each C is a consonant) like {{lang|ms|lewah}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ليواه}}, {{lang|ms|mewah}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ميواه}}, {{lang|ms|dewan}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ديوان}}, {{lang|ms|tewas}} {{lang|ms-Arab|تيواس}}, {{lang|ms|rewang}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ريواڠ}}, {{lang|ms|gewang}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ݢواڠ}}, {{lang|ms|sewat}} {{lang|ms-Arab|سيوات}}, {{lang|ms|kelewang}} {{lang|ms-Arab|کليواڠ}}, {{lang|ms|kedewas}} {{lang|ms-Arab|کديواس}}, {{lang|ms|dewangga}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ديواڠݢ}}.

: Final {{lang|ms|alif}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ا}} is generally kept to represent {{IPAslink|a}} {{IPAblink|ə}} at the end of a word.

: However, in native and [[Sanskrit]]-derived Malay disyllabic root morphemes with the form /Ca.C*a/ [Ca.C*ə], where /C*/ is any of the following 12 consonants {{lang|ms|ba}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ب}}, {{lang|ms|ta}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ت}}, {{lang|ms|pa}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ڤ}}, {{lang|ms|sin}} {{lang|ms-Arab|س}}, {{lang|ms|ga}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ݢ}}, {{lang|ms|nun}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ن}}, {{lang|ms|nya}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ڽ}}, {{lang|ms|ca}} {{lang|ms-Arab|چ}}, {{lang|ms|kaf}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ک}}, {{lang|ms|jim}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ج}}, {{lang|ms|mim}} {{lang|ms-Arab|م}}, {{lang|ms|ya}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ی}} ([[mnemonic]]: {{lang|ms|betapa segannya cik jam}} {{lang|ms-Arab|بتاڤ سݢنڽ چيق جم}}), final {{lang|ms|alif}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ا}} is not written, e.g., {{lang|ms|raba}} {{lang|ms-Arab|راب}}, {{lang|ms|mata}} {{lang|ms-Arab|مات}}, {{lang|ms|sapa}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ساڤ}}, {{lang|ms|rasa}} {{lang|ms-Arab|راس}} (from Skt. {{lang|sa|रस}} ''[[Rasa (aesthetics)|rasa]]''), {{lang|ms|raga}} {{lang|ms-Arab|راݢ}}, {{lang|ms|mana}} {{lang|ms-Arab|مان}}, {{lang|ms|hanya}} {{lang|ms-Arab|هاڽ}}, {{lang|ms|baca}} {{lang|ms-Arab|باچ}} (from Skt. {{lang|sa|वाचा}} ''vācā''), {{lang|ms|raya}} {{lang|ms-Arab|راي}}, {{lang|ms|baka}} {{lang|ms-Arab|باک}}, {{lang|ms|raja}} {{lang|ms-Arab|راج}} (from Skt. {{lang|sa|राजन्}} ''[[raja|rājan]]''), {{lang|ms|nama}} {{lang|ms-Arab|نام}} (from Skt. {{lang|sa|नाम}} ''[[nāma]]''), and {{lang|ms|sama}} {{lang|ms-Arab|سام}}.

: Some native and Sanskrit-derived Malay trisyllabic root morphemes ending with {{IPAslink|a}} {{IPAblink|ə}}, with three open syllables and which include the abovementioned 12 consonants, may also omit the final {{lang|ms|alif}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ا}} e.g.  {{lang|ms|neraka}} {{lang|ms-Arab|نراک}} (from Skt. {{lang|sa|नरक}} ''[[naraka]]'').

* {{note|d|d}} As the final letter of a word, root morpheme-final {{IPAslink|ə}} that is spelled with {{lang|ms|e}} in Rumi may be represented by {{lang|ms|ye}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ى}} in Jawi. In the middle of a word, root morpheme-final {{IPA|/ə/}} that is spelled with {{lang|ms|e}} in Rumi may be represented by {{lang|ms|alif}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ا}} in Jawi instead, e.g., {{lang|ms|fatwa}} {{lang|ms-Arab|فتوى}} → {{lang|ms|memfatwakan}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ممفتواکن}}, {{lang|ms|metabolisme}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ميتابوليسمى}} → {{lang|ms|memetabolismekan}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ممتابوليسماکن}}.
* {{note|e|e}} The {{lang|ms|hamzah}} may be used to spell some diphthongs. Sources differ as to whether and when it should be on the line {{lang|ms-Arab|ء}}, or placed above the previous mater lectionis, such as in {{lang|ms|alif}} with {{lang|ms|hamzah}} above {{lang|ms-Arab|أ}}, or even if it should be used at all in some words.

: Furthermore, it may be used to represent a [[Hiatus (linguistics)|hiatus]], or a glottal stop {{IPAblink|ʔ}}, especially when (but not limited to) separating vowels at the boundary of a root morpheme and an affix, e.g., {{lang|ms|dato{{`}}}} {{lang|ms-Arab|داتو{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}}}, {{lang|ms|baik}} {{lang|ms-Arab|با{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}يق}}, {{lang|ms|mulai}} {{lang|ms-Arab|مولا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}ي}}, {{lang|ms|bau}} {{lang|ms-Arab|با{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}و}}, {{lang|ms|daun}} {{lang|ms-Arab|دا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}ون}}, {{lang|ms|laut}} {{lang|ms-Arab|لا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter|4.5}}وت}}, {{lang|ms|peperiksaan}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ڤڤريقسا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}ن}}, {{lang|ms|kemerdekaan}} {{lang|ms-Arab|کمرديکا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}ن}}, {{lang|ms|diambil}} {{lang|ms-Arab|دأمبيل}}, {{lang|ms|dielakkan}} {{lang|ms-Arab|دأيلقکن}}, {{lang|ms|diertikan}} {{lang|ms-Arab|دأرتيکن}}, {{lang|ms|diikuti}} {{lang|ms-Arab|دأيکوتي}}, {{lang|ms|diolah}} {{lang|ms-Arab|دأوله}}, {{lang|ms|diutamakan}} {{lang|ms-Arab|دأوتاماکن}}, {{lang|ms|keadaan}} {{lang|ms-Arab|کأدا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}ن}}, {{lang|ms|keempat}} {{lang|ms-Arab|کأمڤت}}, {{lang|ms|keindahan}} {{lang|ms-Arab|کأيندهن}}, {{lang|ms|keupayaan}} {{lang|ms-Arab|کأوڤايا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}ن}}, {{lang|ms|seakan-akan}} {{lang|ms-Arab|سأکن-اکن}}, {{lang|ms|seekor}} {{lang|ms-Arab|سأيکور}}, {{lang|ms|seorang}} {{lang|ms-Arab|سأورڠ}}, {{lang|ms|e-mel}} {{lang|ms-Arab|إي-ميل}}, {{lang|ms|eh!}} {{lang|ms-Arab|إيه‮!‬}}, {{lang|ms|ateisme}} {{lang|ms-Arab|اتيئيسمى}}, {{lang|ms|diet}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ديئت}}.
{{refend}}

==Numerals==
Modern Jawi texts tend to use [[Arabic numerals|Western Arabic numerals]], but historically Western and [[Eastern Arabic numerals]] are both used. Eastern Arabic numerals used in historical Jawi documents have several graphical difference from standard modern glyphs. The digit 4 uses "Persian" form {{lang|fa|{{unq|۴}}}} instead of {{lang|ar|{{unq|٤}}}}. Digit 5 varies between rounded {{lang|ar|{{unq|٥}}}} and notched forms {{lang|ar|{{unq|۵}}}}.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gallop |first1=Annabel Teh |title=Dates on Malay seals: a study of Arabic numerals from Southeast Asia |journal=Jurnal Filologi Melayu |date=2015 |volume=22 |pages=89-114}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! Western Arabic numerals
| 0 || 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 || 9
|-
! Eastern Arabic numerals
| {{lang|ar|{{unq|٠}}}}|| {{lang|ar|{{unq|١}}}} || {{lang|ar|{{unq|٢}}}} || {{lang|ar|{{unq|٣}}}} || {{lang|ar|{{unq|٤}}}}/{{lang|fa|{{unq|۴}}}} || {{lang|ar|{{unq|٥}}}}/{{lang|ar|{{unq|۵}}}}|| {{lang|ar|{{unq|٦}}}} || {{lang|ar|{{unq|٧}}}} || {{lang|ar|{{unq|٨}}}} || {{lang|ar|{{unq|٩}}}}
|}

==Punctuation==
[[Malay grammar#Reduplication|Full reduplication]] of a base word is represented with the numeral {{lang|ms-Arab|٢}}, e.g., {{lang|ms|anak-anak}} {{lang|ms-Arab|انق٢}},  while the suffixed reduplication of a base word is represented with the hyphen "-", e.g., {{lang|ms|berhati-hati}} {{lang|ms-Arab|برهاتي-هاتي}}, {{lang|ms|sayur-sayuran}} {{lang|ms-Arab|سايور-سايورن}}, and {{lang|ms|gunung-ganang}} {{lang|ms-Arab|ݢونوڠ-ݢانڠ}}.

Other [[punctuation]] marks used in written Jawi are as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan=2| Punctuation mark
! colspan=2| Malay name
! rowspan=2| Rumi
! rowspan=2| Jawi
|-
! Rumi
! Jawi
|-
| Comma
| {{lang|ms|Tanda koma}}
| {{lang|ms-Arab|تندا کوما}}
|,
| {{Script|Arab|⹁}}
|-
| Semicolon
| {{lang|ms|Tanda koma bertitik}}
| {{lang|ms-Arab|تندا کوما برتيتيق}}
|;
| {{Script|Arab|⁏}}
|-
| Question mark
| {{lang|ms|Tanda soal}}
| {{lang|ms-Arab|تندا سو{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter}}ال}}
|?
| {{Script|Arab|؟}}
|}

==Examples==
Akin to the Arabic script, Jawi is constructed from [[right-to-left script|right-to-left]]. Below is an exemplification of the Jawi script extracted from the first and second verse of the notable {{lang|ms|Ghazal untuk Rabiah}}, {{lang|ms-Arab|غزال اونتوق ربيعة}} ([[English language|English]]: A [[Ghazal]] for Rabiah).<ref>{{Cite web |title=lirik lagu |url=http://www.liriklagu.com/liriklagu_jm/MNasir_GhazalUntuk.html |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=www.liriklagu.com}}</ref>
{| cellpadding=6
!Jawi script
!Rumi script
!English translation
|- style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"
| style="direction:rtl" lang="ms-Arab" |
<poem>
{{script/Arabic|کيلاوان اينتن برکليڤ-کليڤ دلاڠيت تيڠݢي⹁
دان چهاي مناري-ناري دلاڠيت بيرو⹁
تيدقله داڤت مننڠکن ڤراسا{{Jawi-HamzaThreeQuarter|5}}نکو⹁
يڠ ريندوکن کحاضيرن کاسيه.

ݢمرسيق ايراما مردو بولوه ڤريندو⹁
دان ڽاڽين ڤري٢ دري کايڠن⹁
تيدقله داڤت تنترمکن صنوبري⹁
يڠ مندمباکن کڤستين کاسيهمو.}}
</poem>
| style="font-style: italic;" lang="ms" |
<poem>
Kilauan intan berkelip-kelip di langit tinggi,
Dan cahaya menari-nari di langit biru,
Tidaklah dapat menenangkan perasaanku,
Yang rindukan kehadiran kasih.

Gemersik irama merdu buluh perindu,
Dan nyanyian peri-peri dari kayangan,
Tidaklah dapat tenteramkan sanubari,
Yang mendambakan kepastian kasihmu.
</poem>
|
<poem>
The glimmer of gems twinkling in the lofty sky,
And light that dances across upon the azure sky,
Are not able to soothe my heart,
That pines for the presence of the Beloved.

The melodious rhythm of the reed flute,
And the chorus of nymphs from Heaven,
Are not able to calm the soul,
That craves the certainty of your Love.
</poem>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |last=De Casparis |first=J. G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cLUfAAAAIAAJ |title=Indonesian Paleography |date=29 November 1975 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=9004041729 |pages=70–71}}
* {{Cite book |last=Hudson |first=Herbert Henry |url=https://archive.org/details/malayorthography00hudsrich |title=The Malay orthography |publisher=Kelly & Walsh |year=1892 |location=Singapore}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Paterson |first=H. S. |last2=Blagden |first2=C. O. |year=1924 |title=An early Malay Inscription from 14th-century Terengganu |journal=Journ. Mal. Br.R.A.S. |volume=II |pages=258–263}}
* {{Cite book |last=Winstedt |first=R. O. |title=A History of Malaya |year=1962 |edition=revised |page=40}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.omniglot.com/writing/malay.htm Omniglot article about written Malay]
* [http://www.jawiware.org Software and articles related to Jawi]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100726172104/http://www.jawi.ukm.my/ Transliteration of Rumi to Jawi]
* [http://mammana.org/bcp/jawi1857/ Book of Common Prayer in Jawi Script], digitized by Richard Mammana
* [https://sea.lib.niu.edu/seadl/islandora/object/SEAImages%3AJawi Jawi Transliteration Project | Southeast Asia Digital Library]
* [https://www.maksudnama.com/ Maksud Nama in Jawi | Arab and Malaysia Name Reference]

{{Arabic alphabets}}
{{Language alphabets}}
{{list of writing systems}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jawi Script}}
[[Category:Arabic alphabets]]
[[Category:Indonesian scripts]]
[[Category:Malay language]]
[[Category:Jawi script| ]]