Crossword Clue: Large Indonesian island west of Java
Here's the answer to the Large Indonesian island west of Java crossword clue, with an explanation and where it has appeared.
Definition & answer: SUMATRA
SUMATRA solves the clue "Large Indonesian island west of Java". Spanning 7 letters (3 vowels, 4 consonants), it begins at S and ends at A. Like most crossword fill, it lives at the intersection of two words, so a single confirmed crossing letter frequently reveals the whole entry.
Origin & meaning
Sumatra is the sixth-largest island in the world, straddling the equator in Indonesia. It is home to orangutans, tigers, and its namesake coffee.
Common usage
Sumatra turns up often in crosswords because of that letter mix. Words like SUMATRA interlock cleanly with longer entries, so constructors reach for them to make a grid fit together without awkward clashes. Given a 7-square slot and a crossing letter or two, it's usually quick to confirm.
Crossword trivia
At 7 letters, SUMATRA shows up in daily mini and themed puzzles far more than longer, obscure words. It's the kind of entry worth memorizing — the more common short words you know cold, the faster you solve.
Stuck on this clue?
If this clue won't come, leave it and fill the answers that cross it. Once a couple of SUMATRA's letters are locked by neighboring words, the entry tends to reveal itself. Crossings beat staring at a clue every time.
This clue in different puzzles
Setters vary how they clue SUMATRA — sometimes with a straight dictionary definition, sometimes with wordplay, a pun, or a fill-in-the-blank — but the answer itself stays the same. Learning to spot the answer behind the disguise is a core crossword skill.
Example sentences
- "Seeing 'Large Indonesian island west of Java' in the clue list, an experienced solver pencils in SUMATRA almost immediately."
- "Once the S was confirmed by the crossing word, SUMATRA was the only entry that fit."
- "A 7-letter slot and a clue like 'Large Indonesian island west of Java'? That's SUMATRA nine times out of ten."