import java.util.regex.Pattern; import java.util.regex.Matcher; class Test { public static void main(String[] args) { String command = "while; incr; decr"; Pattern commandPattern = Pattern.compile("([while,incr,decr])"); Matcher matcher = commandPattern.matcher(command); if (matcher.find()) { System.out.println(String.format("Group: %s", matcher.group(1))); } } }