Complete Gairaigo DatabaseJapanese Loanword Dictionary
Search thousands of foreign-origin words adapted into Japanese, see source-language notes when the data supports them, and explore distinctive Wasei-Eigo terms.
Wasei-Eigo
和製英語 / JAPANGLISHExplore words that sound English-like but were created or reshaped in Japan.
Source Languages
語源 / ETYMOLOGYNot all gairaigo comes from English. Find traces from Portuguese, Dutch, German, French, and other languages.
Popular Entries
アニメ
anime
Japanese animation; an animated film or series.
ゲーム
geemu
A game or match; also used for play in general contexts.
テレビ
terebi
Television; a TV set, or TV as a medium and its programs.
ラジオ
rajio
The transmission of programs via radio waves, or the device used to listen to them.
ニュース
nyuusu
Information about recent events or happenings.
カメラ
kamera
A device for taking photographs or recording video.
ビデオ
bideo
Visual media or the hardware used to record and play it.
コミック
komikku
Comic, comics, a comic book, or by extension something comical.
アイドル
aidoru
A pop performer marketed as an idealized celebrity with a devoted fan base.
ドラマ
dorama
A fictional television series or a dramatic play or event.
ミュージック
myuujikku
Organized sound as an art form, including singing, instruments, and rhythm.
ギター
gitaa
A guitar, the stringed musical instrument.
ピアノ
piano
A large musical instrument played by pressing keys.
ジャズ
jazu
Jazz music.
ロック
rokku
A mechanism for fastening or securing; also a specific position in rugby.
スポーツ
supootsu
Physical activities involving skill and competition.
サッカー
sakkaa
The game of soccer.
テニス
tenisu
The sport of tennis.
ゴルフ
gorufu
The sport played on a course by hitting a ball into holes.
バスケット
basuketto
A container made of woven material, or a common abbreviation for basketball.
バレー
baree
Common abbreviation for volleyball.
ボール
booru
A round object used in games or a pitch outside the strike zone in baseball.
パソコン
pasokon
A computer designed for individual use.
コンピュータ
konpyuuta
An electronic device that processes data.
ウェブ
webu
The web or the World Wide Web.
サイト
saito
A site, especially a website.
アプリ
apuri
An application program, especially for phones or computers.
メール
meeru
Email; digital message sent by post or messaging systems.
ソフト
sofuto
A clipped form with several senses, including the computing sense 'software'.
データ
deeta
Data; facts or information, especially in a format that can be processed or analyzed.
ファイル
fairu
A digital record or a physical folder for papers.
コピー
kopii
A copy, especially a photocopy; also a blurb or slogan used in publishing and advertising.
リモコン
rimokon
Handheld device used to operate electronic equipment from a distance.
キーボード
kiiboodo
An input device with keys used for typing on a computer or other machine.
マウス
mausu
A mouse, especially a lab mouse, or a computer mouse.
モニター
monitaa
A display screen, and also a verb phrase meaning to monitor or oversee a process or product.
プログラム
puroguramu
A sequence of events, a schedule, or a set of instructions for a computer.
スーパー
suupaa
An abbreviation used for supermarket, subtitles/telop, and related 'super-' uses.
コンビニ
konbini
A convenience store, usually shortened in casual speech.
レストラン
resutoran
An establishment where meals are served to customers, especially Western-style.
ホテル
hoteru
An establishment providing paid lodging, typically on a short-term basis.
マンション
manshon
A condominium or apartment building, usually a mid- or high-rise one.
アパート
apaato
An apartment building or apartment unit.
ビーチ
biichi
Sandy or pebbly shore by the ocean.
パーク
paaku
A public recreation area or the act of parking a vehicle.
ショッピングモール
shoppingumooru
A large commercial complex with many stores.
タクシー
takushii
A taxicab for hire.
バス
basu
A large motor vehicle for public transport, or a communication system in computing.
パスポート
pasupooto
An official document issued by a government, certifying the holder's identity and citizenship for travel.
ビル
biru
A multi-storey building, usually in an urban area.
エレベーター
erebeetaa
A device for moving people or goods between floors.
エスカレーター
esukareetaa
A moving staircase for carrying people between floors.
エアコン
eakon
An air conditioner or air-conditioning unit.
シャワー
shawaa
A shower; a device or place for washing with running water.
トイレ
toire
A facility for urination and defecation.
ベッド
beddo
A piece of furniture used for sleeping or resting.
ソファ
sofa
A cushioned seat for several people, usually with a back and armrests.
テーブル
teeburu
A piece of furniture with a flat top and legs.
ドア
doa
A movable barrier used to close off an entrance.
ガラス
garasu
Transparent material used for windows and containers.
ボタン
botan
A small fastener on clothing or a switch to activate a device.
タオル
taoru
A cloth used for drying the body or surfaces.
ストーブ
sutoobu
A room heater or stove used for heating indoors.
ドライバー
doraibaa
A person who drives, a hand tool, or software controlling hardware.
ナイフ
naifu
A tool with a blade and a handle, used for cutting.
フォーク
fooku
Dining utensil with prongs; or a type of breaking pitch in baseball.
スプーン
supuun
A spoon; also a spoon-shaped fishing lure.
カップ
kappu
Cup, especially a drinking vessel or related everyday item.
コップ
koppu
A drinking glass; also the cups suit in playing cards.
パン
pan
Bread and various baked goods.
珈琲
koohii
Coffee, the beverage made from roasted coffee beans.
ビール
biiru
An alcoholic beverage brewed from cereal grains.
ワイン
wain
Alcoholic drink made from fermented grapes.
ジュース
juusu
A juice or a fruit-based sweet drink.
ミルク
miruku
Milk; also used for related dairy products such as infant formula or condensed milk.
バター
bataa
A pale yellow fatty substance made by churning cream, used as a spread or in cooking.
チーズ
chiizu
Cheese; also used as a camera-taking exclamation.
ケーキ
keeki
Cake; a sweet baked dessert.
クッキー
kukkii
A small sweet baked item; also a browser cookie in computing.
ピザ
piza
An Italian dish of flat dough topped with sauce and cheese, or a derogatory term for an overweight person.
サラダ
sarada
A dish of raw or mixed ingredients, usually vegetables, served cold with dressing or sauce.
サンドイッチ
sandoicchi
A sandwich made with bread and a filling.
チョコレート
chokoreeto
Chocolate as a food ingredient or confection.
アイスクリーム
aisukuriimu
A frozen dessert made with milk or cream.
煙草
tabako
Tobacco products, most commonly cigarettes.
シャツ
shatsu
A shirt; also an undershirt or singlet.
ジャケット
jaketto
A jacket, or a cover used for books and media.
コート
kooto
A coat; also a coating layer.
スカート
sukaato
A garment worn from the waist down, usually hanging separately from the legs.
ズボン
zubon
Clothing for the lower body, worn from the waist down with separate legs.
ソックス
sokkusu
Socks worn on the feet.
ネクタイ
nekutai
A long piece of cloth worn around the neck or shoulders.
バッグ
baggu
A flexible container with an opening at the top, used for carrying items.
カード
kaado
A card or card-like item, especially a playing card or bank card.
バンク
banku
A financial institution or a sloped physical feature.
ビジネス
bijinesu
Commercial activity, trade, or professional work.
アルバイト
arubaito
A part-time job or someone who works part-time.
サラリーマン
sarariiman
A salaried office worker, typically a male white-collar employee in a company.
ペン
pen
An instrument for writing or drawing with ink.
ノート
nooto
A paper notebook for writing, a laptop computer, or a musical note.