List of gairaigo and wasei-eigo terms

This is a selected list of gairaigo, Japanese words originating or based on foreign language (generally Western) terms, including wasei-eigo (Japanese pseudo-Anglicisms).

Many of these words derive from Portuguese, due to Portugal's early role in Japanese-Western interaction; Dutch, due to the Netherlands' relationship with Japan amidst the policy of sakoku during the Edo Period; and from French and German, due to France and Germany's cultural and scientific prominence during Japan's modernization in the Meiji Period.

However, most come from English, the dominant world language today. Due to the large number of western concepts imported into Japanese culture during modern times, there are thousands of these English borrowings. These English words are informally referred to as having been "Nipponized".

Japanese vocabulary also includes large numbers of words from Chinese, borrowed at various points throughout history. However, since the Japanese language has such strong historical ties to the Chinese language, these loans are not generally considered gairaigo.

Many loan words are in fact pseudo-borrowings: despite their links to foreign language words, the word forms as used in modern Japanese are not used in the same way in their languages of origin. In fact, many such terms, despite their similarity to the original foreign words, are not easily understood by speakers of those languages (e.g. left over as a baseball term for a hit that goes over the left-fielder's head, rather than uneaten food saved for a later meal as in English—or famikon ファミコン from "Family computer", which actually refers to the Nintendo Entertainment System).

See the list of Japanese terms mistaken for gairaigo for details of words or terms mistaken for foreign loan words and false cognates.

Note:

US = American English

UK = British English

Examples

As a complete list of foreign loan words in Japanese would fill a whole dictionary, this list focuses mainly on pseudo-borrowings and commonly used loan words from languages other than English (which are often mistaken for English words in Japan).

Katakana	Rōmaji	Origin	Meaning	Language of origin
アベック	abekku	avec (meaning 'with')	romantic couple	French
アフターサービス	afutāsābisu	after service	customer service, user support, after care, service	English
アイドル	aidoru	idol	(teen) idol, pop star	English
アイス	aisu	ice/Eis	ice, also used as a shortened form of ice cream	English/German
アイスクリーム	aisu kurīmu	ice cream	ice cream	English
アイゼン	aizen	(Steig)eisen (meaning 'climbing iron' or 'crampon')	crampons	German
アメフト	amefuto	Ame(rican) foot(ball)	American football	English
アメリカンドッグ	amerikandoggu	American dog	corn dog	English
アニメ	anime	anima(tion)	animation, animated cartoons or films (although anime has been reborrowed into English with a meaning of "Japanese animation", in Japanese the term refers to all animation)	English
アニソン	anison	ani(me) + son(g)	an anime song, most often the theme	English
アンケート	ankēto	enquête	questionnaire, survey	French
アンニュイ	annyui	ennui	ennui, boredom	French
アパート	apāto	apart(ment)	apartment (US), flat (UK), though apāto are usually in small two-story wood-structure buildings, not multistory complexes as in the US usage	American English
アポ	apo	appo(intment)	appointment	English
〜アップ	~appu	up(grade)	to upgrade or improve (something). Coupled with English or pseudo-English nouns that indicate what that something is; e.g., version-up: upgrade (software), buy the next-better version or model of something, improve the appearance of something; image-up: improve the image of, improve one's outward appearance; "weight-up": to gain weight; manner-up: improve one's manners, learn (proper/better) manners or etiquette; power-up: an object that instantly benefits or adds extra abilities to a video game character; base-up, level-up: take to the next or a higher (basic) level of quality; also base-up (frequently abbreviated bea): to raise the base wage of the workers	English
アロエ	aroe	Aloë	aloe	Dutch
アルバイト or バイト	arubaito or baito	Arbeit (meaning 'work')	part-time job	German
アールブイ	ārubui	RV	truck, van, SUV, Recreational Vehicle	English
アルコール	arukōru	alcohol, álcool	alcohol, alcoholic beverage	Portuguese
アウトコース	autokōsu	out course	outside	English
オテンバ	otenba	ontembaar (untameable)	a tomboy	Dutch
バーゲン	bāgen	bargain	a sale at a store	English
バイク	baiku	bike	a motorcycle, but not a bicycle	English
バカンス	bakansu	vacances	holiday, vacation	French
ブックカバー	bukkukabā	book cover	dust jacket	English
バックミラー	bakkumirā	back mirror	rear-view mirror	English
バックナンバー	bakkunanbā	back number	back issue	English
バックネット	bakkunetto	back net	a backstop (in baseball)	English
バリアフリー	bariafurī	barrier free	Accessible facilities for handicapped persons	English
バリカン	barikan	Bariquand & Marre	Hand or electric operating hair trimmer	French
バスジャック	basujakku	bus (hi)jack	a bus hijacking (possibly based on the English term "carjack")	English?
バター	batā	butter	butter, sometimes used on food packaging to refer to margarine	English
バッティング	battingu	batting or butting	Swing the bat in baseball; or, to project forward or propose competitively on business or others by two or more parties, like " heads" by animals.	English
ベビーカー	bebīkā	baby car	stroller (US), pushchair or pram (UK)	English
ベッドタウン	beddotaun	bed town	bedroom suburbs, bedroom community, dormitory suburb, commuter town	English
ビー玉	bīdama	vi(dro) (glass) + 玉 (dama, ball)	marbles	Portuguese + Japanese
ビジネスホテル	bijinesuhoteru	business hotel	budget hotel	English
ビロード	birōdo	veludo	velvet	Portuguese
ビル	biru	buil(ding)	building (especially modern steel / concrete buildings)	English
ビール	bīru	bier	beer	Dutch
ボンベ	bonbe	Bombe	a steel canister for storing pressurized gas, such as a propane tank	German
ボールペン	bōrupen	ball(point) pen	a ballpoint pen	English
ボタン	botan	botão	button	Portuguese
ブランコ	buranko	balanço	a swing	Portuguese
ブラセラ or ブルセラ	burasera or burusera	bloo(mer) sailor	panty fetishism, especially with teenage girls wearing school outfits ("sailor suits") and bloomers.	English
ブレザー	burezā	blazer	blazer, or a Japanese school uniform that includes that garment. It usually has buttons down the front and a vest under it with a white collared shirt.	English
ブルマ	buruma	bloomers	short pants worn for exercise by girls, usually in PE class in high school	English
キャビンアテンダント	kyabinatendanto (Sometimes shortened to "CA")	Cabin attendant	A flight attendant	English
チェリーボーイ	cherībōi	cherry boy	A male virgin	English
チアガール	chiagāru	cheer girl	(female) cheerleader	English
チアマン	chiaman	cheer man	(male) cheerleader	English
チアリーダー	chiarīdā	cheerleader	cheerleader	English
チアリーディング	chiarīdingu	cheerleading	cheerleading	English
チケット	chiketto	ticket	ticket	English
チンキ	chinki	tinktuur	tincture	Dutch
チューハイ or 酎ハイ	chūhai	(焼)酎 ((Shō)chū) + high(ball)	a kind of alcoholic drink originating from Japan	Japanese + English
コラボ	korabo	Collab(orations)	A term for when two separate entities come together and make something	English
コンピューター or コンピュータ	konpyūtā or konpyūta	computer	computer	English
ダブル(noun), ダブる(intransitive verb). Sometimes "W"	daburu	double	(noun and adjective) double; double-breasted (jacket), or turn-ups (cuffs) on trousers; (verb) to be redundant or doubled	English
ダンプカー	danpukā	dump car	dump truck (US), dumper (UK)	English
ダストボックス	dasutobokkusu	dust box	rubbish bin (UK), garbage can (US)	English
ダウンロードオンリーメンバー	daunrōdoonrīmenbā	download only member	a computing leech	English
〜ティック or 〜⁠チック	~tikku or ~chikku	the "-tic" suffix, as in (roman)tic, (drama)tic	~esque, attached to a noun. For example, a product with cute character illustrations may be considered "Akihabara-chikku".	English
デッドボール	deddobōru	dead ball	hit by a pitch	English
デコレーションケーキ	dekorēshonkēki	decoration cake	a fancy cake	English
電子レンジ or レンジ	denshirenji or renji	電子 (denshi, electronic) + range	a microwave oven	Japanese + English
デパート	depāto	depart(ment store)	department store	English
デリバリーヘルス	deribarīherusu	delivery health	a form of prostitution, essentially a call girl or escort service	English
デッサン	dessan	dessin	drawing	French
デスク	desuku	desk	an editor for a certain section of a publication, derived from the English custom of calling the job a desk, as in "the sports desk"	English
ドイツ	doitsu	Duits(land), Deutsch(land)	Germany	Dutch, German
ドクター ストップ	dokutāsutoppu	doctor stop	when the doctor tells a patient to stop doing something	English
ドンマイ	donmai	don('t) mi(nd)	"don't worry about it", "don't pay (that) any mind", "it's/I'm OK", "no problem". Frequently used when something goes wrong	English
ドライバー	doraibā	driver	a screwdriver, motor vehicle driver	English
ドライブイン	doraibuin	drive in	rest area, motor lodge, drive-in	English
ドラマ	dorama	drama	TV drama, soap opera	English
ドリフト	dorifuto	drift	drifting, in the sense of a car in the controlled skid used in drifting	English
エアコン	eakon	air con(ditioning) or air con(ditioner)	air conditioning or air conditioner	English
AV	ēbui or ēvui	wasei-eigo AV	adult video, audio visual (audio video)	English
エキス	ekisu	ex(tract)	extract	Dutch
エネルギッシュ	enerugisshu	energisch	energetic	German
エンスト	ensuto	en(gine) sto(p)	stall (as in an automobile engine)	English
エレベーター	erebētā	elevator	elevator (American English), lift (British English)	American English
エロ	ero	ero(s)	erotic	English
エログ	erogu	ero(tic) + (b)log	erotic / adult oriented blog	English
エログロ	eroguro	ero(tic) gro(tesque)	a loosely defined artistic movement featuring "erotic grotesque nonsense" that emerged in Japan in the early 20th century	English
エール	ēru	yell	(1) to cheer on a player in a sports competition; (2) to express support for a candidate in an election	English
LLC	eruerushī	acronym for "long life coolant"	antifreeze coolants	English
エスカレーター	esukarētā	escalator	escalator	English
エステ	esute	esthé(tique)	beauty salon, esthetic clinic	French
エッチ	ecchi	H (likely from the first letter of hentai)	dirty, naughty; sex (the etymology of ecchi is still debated by Japanese linguists)	English
ファイト	faito	fight	often used to mean "Do your best!" or "I'll do my best."	English
ファミコン	famikon, Famicom	fami(ly) com(puter)	the Nintendo Entertainment System. Also used as a catch-all term by the older generation for any gaming console.	English
ファンファーレ	fanfāre	fanfare	a musical fanfare	German
ファンタジック	fantajikku	fantasy + -ic	fantastic	English
ファッションヘルス	fasshonherusu	fashion health	a form of brothel	English
フェッチ	fecchi	fetch	(Computer Jargon) To fetch an instruction from main memory when a microprocessor executes a command	English
～フェチ	fechi	feti(sh)	fetish (typically a sexual fetish but sometimes just referring to a distinctive preference)	English
フォアボール	foabōru	four ball	walk, base on, ball four	English
フライ	furai	fly	fly ball (baseball term)	English
フライ	furai	fry	Deep frying	English
フライドポテト	furaidopoteto	fried potato	french fries (US), chips (UK)	English
フライング(スタート)	furaingu(sutāto)	flying (start)	premature start, breakaway	English
フリーダイアル or フリーダイヤル	furīdaiaru or furīdaiyaru	free dial	toll free call	English
フリーサイズ	furīsaizu	free size	one-size-fits-all	English
フリーター	furītā	free + contraction of Arbeiter (or free + time)	underemployed young adults, people who opt to work (a series of) part-time jobs rather than engage in permanent employment	English + German
フロント	furonto	front (desk)	the reception desk, e.g. at a hotel or a sentō	English
フロントガラス	furontogarasu	front glass	windshield (US), windscreen (UK)	English
ガードマン	gādoman	guard man	a (private) security guard, a person who directs traffic around work sites	English
ガラス or 硝子	garasu	glas or glass	glass (material)	Dutch or English
ガソリンスタンド	gasorinsutando	gasoline stand	gas station (US), petrol station (UK)	English
ガッツポーズ	gattsu pōzu	guts pose	fist pump, victory pose	English
ガーゼ	gāze	Gaze	gauze	German
ゲームセンター or ゲーセン	gēmusentā or gēsen	game centre	video arcade	English
ゲレンデ	gerende	Gelände (meaning 'site; ground; premises')	ski slope	German
ギブ(アップ)	gibu(appu)	give (up)	To give up	English
ギプス or ギブス	gipusu or gibusu	Gips	cast (sometimes gipusu means a plaster cast, while gibusu refers to a plastic brace)	German
ゴム	gomu	gom	rubber, eraser, rubber band	Dutch
ゴールデンアワー or ゴールデンタイム	gōruden'awā or gōrudentaimu	golden hour or golden time	prime time in Japanese television	English
ゴールデンウィーク or ゴールデンウイーク	gōruden'wīku or gōruden'uīku	golden week	A week of holidays in Japan, Golden Week.	English
ググる	guguru	goog(le) + -ru (Japanese verb ending)	to google	English + Japanese
グラス	gurasu	glass	drinking glass	English
グロ	guro	gro(tesque)	grotesque	English
ギャラリー	gyararī	gallery	an art gallery, audience, or a pool of celebrities on a program.	English
ハイカラ	haikara	high colla(r)	In 1920s slang, "haikara" referred to a person who was devoted to Western fashions, trends and values. See also the popular 1970s manga and anime, Haikara-san ga Tōru ("Here Comes Miss High-Collar").	English
ハイネック	hainekku	high neck	A turtleneck style shirt or sweater	English
ハイタッチ	haitacchi	high touch	High five	English
ハッカー	hakkā	hacker	refers specifically to a computer black hat	English
ハッピーエンド	happīendo	happy end	a happy ending	English
ハモる	hamoru	harmo(ny) + -ru (Japanese verb ending)	to harmonize (when singing)	English + Japanese
ハンバーグ	hanbāgu	hamburg(er steak)	Salisbury steak, (culinary term)	English
ハンチング帽	hanchingu-bō	hunting + 帽 (bō, hat, cap)	hunting cap	English + Japanese
ハンドル	handoru	handle	steering wheel or bicycle handlebars	English
ハンドルキーパー	handorukīpā	handle keeper	designated driver	English
ハンドルネーム	handorunēmu	handle name	handle, screen name	English
ハンカチ	hankachi	han(d)kerchie(f)	handkerchief	English
ハンスト	hansuto	hun(ger) st(rike)	hunger strike	English
ハウス	hausu	(vinyl) + house	greenhouse or glasshouse	English
ヘアピンカーブ	heapinkābu	hairpin curve	hairpin turn	English
ヘルスメーター	herusumētā	health meter	bathroom scales, scales	English
ヒステリー	hisuterī	Hysterie	loss of (self) control	German
ヒップ	hippu	Hips	buttocks, butt	English
ホルモン	horumon	Hormon	hormone	German
ホース	hōsu	hoos	a hose	Dutch
ホッチキス	hocchikisu	Hotchkiss	stapler (a genericized trademark of the E. H. Hotchkiss company, also used in Korea)	English
ホットケーキ	hottokēki	hotcake	a pancake, (also called hotcake in English)	English
ホーム	hōmu	(plat)form	a railway platform	English
ホワイトデー	howaitodē	White + Day	White Day, a month after Valentine's Day	English
イエス	iesu	Jesus	Jesus	Portuguese
イギリス	igirisu	inglês or inglés	English, England or the United Kingdom	Portuguese and Spanish
イクラ	ikura	икра (ikra) (meaning 'caviar')	salmon roe	Russian
イメージ	imēji	image	an image, often used to indicate an artist's rendering or a graphic intended to provide a conceptual image of a situation; especially in advertising and design, a conceptual description intended to conjure a mental image of an abstract situation; (the public's) impression or perception of an entity.	English
インフレ	infure	infla(tion)	inflation	English
イン・キー	in kī	in key	locking one's car keys inside of one's car	English
イラスト	irasuto	illust(ration)	an illustration	English
イヤー・オブ・ザ・コーチ	iyā obu za kōchi	year of the coach	coach of the year (a title given to coaches by Asahi Shimbun and the Japan High School Baseball Federation from 2003-2005; corrected to the Japanese name 育成功労賞 from 2006; now known as the Training Achievement Award)	English
ジャンパー	janpā	jumper	jacket, jumper (Ski jumping athletes)	English
ジェンダーフリー	jendāfurī	gender free	gender equality, gender blind	English
ジェットコースター	jettokōsutā	jet coaster	roller coaster	English
ジンギスカン	jingisukan	Genghis Khan	Mongolian style barbecue with cut lamb and vegetables	Mongolian
ジーパン	jīpan	jea(ns) + pan(ts)	jeans	English
ジュース	jūsu	juice	often used to refer to soda or energy drinks, regardless of whether they contain any juice	English
カメラマン	kameraman	cameraman	photographer	English
カモン or カモーン	kamon or kamōn	come on	An invitation to join an activity or event.	English
カン or 缶	kan	kan	can (beverage can or tin can)	Dutch
カンニング	kanningu	cunning	cheating	English
カッパ or 合羽	kappa	capa (de chuva)	(rain) coat	Portuguese
カラン	karan	kraan	faucet	Dutch
カラオケ	karaoke	空 (kara, empty) + orche(stra)	karaoke	Japanese + English
カリウム or カリ or 加里	kariumu or kari	kalium	potassium	Dutch
カルキ	karuki	kalk	lime (mineral)	Dutch
カルピス	karupisu	cal(cium) + सर पिस (sar)pis (Sanskrit for "good taste")	Calpis (a milky soft drink)	English + Sanskrit
カルタ	karuta	carta	karuta (Japanese playing cards)	Portuguese
カルテ	karute	Karte	(a patient's) medical record	German
カシューナッツ	Kashū nattsu	cashew nut	cashew	English
カステラ	kasutera or Castella	(pão de) Castela (bread from Castile)	a kind of sponge cake popular at festivals and as a street food in Japan	Portuguese
カツ	katsu	喝 (hot3)	drink	Cantonese
カチューシャ	kachūsha	Katyusha	Alice band; horseshoe-shaped hairband made of metal or plastic (often covered with cloth). However, in Russian it is called "ободок" ("obodōk").	Russian
キーホルダー	kīhorudā	key holder	key ring or key chain	English
キリスト or 基督	kirisuto	Cristo	Christ	Portuguese
キスマーク	kisumāku	kiss mark	hickey	English
キッチンペーパー	kicchinpēpā	kitchen paper	paper towel	English
コーヒー or 珈琲	kōhī	koffie	coffee	Dutch
コインランドリー	koin randorī	coin laundry	laundromat (US), launderette (UK)	English
コインロッカー	koin rokkā	coin locker	type of locker	English
コック	kokku	kok	a cook	Dutch
コミカライズ	komikaraizu	comic + -alize	to make a comic strip (manga) version of an originally non-comic strip title, such as a novel, movie, or TV show.	English
コンビニ	konbini	conveni(ence store)	convenience store	English
コンビナート	konbināto	комбинат (kombinat) (meaning 'combine')	Combine (enterprise)	Russian
コンクール	konkūru	concours	a contest, a competition	French
コンセント	konsento	concent(ric plug)	power outlet	English
コント	konto	conte	a short comedy	French
コップ	koppu	copo	a glass or tumbler	Portuguese
コラーゲン	korāgen	Kollagen	collagen	German
コロッケー	korokke	croquette	croquette, a small fried roll	English
コスプレ	kosupure	cos(tume) play	cosplay (a subculture involving dressing up in costumes, especially from manga, anime and video games)	English
クラブ or 倶楽部	kurabu	club	a club or society	English
クラクション	kurakushon	Klaxon	horn (on an automobile)	English
クランケ	kuranke	Kranker	patient	German
クレーム	kurēmu	claim	a complaint	English
クリスタル	kurisutaru	crystal	shiny or clear	English
キーボード	kībōdo	keyboard	a keyboard	English
キャベツ	kyabetsu	cabbage	cabbage	English
キャンペーン	kyanpēn	campaign	a sales campaign or sweepstakes	English
キャンピングカー	kyanpingukā	Camping-car	a recreational vehicle	French-made English
キャッチボール	kyacchibōru	catch ball	the game of catch	English
キャッチホン	kyacchihon	catch phone	call waiting	English
キャッチコピー	kyacchikopī	catch copy	tagline	English
キャップ	kyappu	cap	cap	English
マグカップ	magukappu	mug cup	mug	English
マイナスドライバー	mainasudoraibā	minus driver	(flathead) screwdriver	English
マイ〜	mai~	my	one's own. Common examples include mai būmu: personal taste; mai kã: one's own car; mai waifu : my wife; mai hōmū: one's own house; mai pēsu: doing things at one's own (leisurely) pace, taking one's time (often somewhat derogatory)	English
マジックインキ	majikkuinki	Magic Ink (a registered trademark of Uchida Yoko Co., Ltd.)	Permanent marker	English
マジックテープ	majikkutēpu	magic tape	Velcro	English
ママ	mama	mamá	mom	Spanish/Portuguese
マンダラ	mandara	मण्डल (Mandala)	circle	Sanskrit
マニア	mania	mania	enthusiasm, enthusiast	English
マンション	manshon	mansion	modern concrete apartment / condominium block	English
満タン	mantan	満 (man, full) + tan(k)	full tank (as in the fuel tank of an automobile)	Japanese + English
マロン	maron	marron	chestnut, metaphor for brown eyes	French
マスコミ	masukomi	mass communication	mass media, the media, the press	English
マザコン	mazakon	mother com(plex)	Oedipus complex, or a strong attachment, formed in childhood, to one's mother, often used derogatorily; "girly man"	English
マゾ	mazo (sometimes shortened to "M")	masochiste	masochist	French
メール	mēru	mail	e-mail	English
メールマガジン	mērumagajin	mail magazine	e-mail newsletter, ezine	English
ミイラ or 木乃伊	miira	mirra (myrrh: an oil used in preservation)	a mummy	Portuguese
ミルク	miruku	milk	milk, non-dairy creamer	English
ミシン	mishin	(sewing) machine	sewing machine	English
モバイル	mobairu	mobile	mobile communications, mobile communications capability, or mobile communications devices, esp. PDAs and personal computers with wireless communications capabilities	English
モボ	mobo	mo(dern) bo(y)	1920s slang for young men adopting western styles and behaviours	English
モガ	moga	mo(dern) gi(rl)	1920s slang for young women adopting western styles and behaviours, flapper	English
モーニングコール	mōningukōru	morning call	wake-up call	English
モーニングコート or モーニング	mōningukōto or mōningu	morning coat	morning coat	English
モーニングサービス or モーニング	mōningusābisu	morning service	breakfast special, complimentary toast, hard-boiled egg et al. that is served at cafes when a cup of coffee is ordered (only seen in some parts of Japan)	English
モラトリアム人間	moratoriamuningen	moratorium + 人間 (ningen, person, human being)	a person who, having completed education and other preparations, delays the transition from student to productive member of society, staying in an uncertain limbo of continued education, part-time work, and parental support (similar to freeter)	English + Japanese
モーテル	mōteru	motel	recently called as "love hotel". Does not have meaning of English "motel" used by tourists with their own vehicles.	English
ムーディ	mūdi	moody	nice	English
ムーンサルト	mūnsaruto	moon + Salto	an artistic gymnastics maneuver. Also used to describe a professional wrestling maneuver.	English and German
ナイター	naitā	night + -er	a night game	English
ナンバーディスプレイ	nanbādisupurei	number display	caller ID	English
ナンバープレート	nanbāpurēto	number plate	BrE number plate, AmE license plate	English
ナトリウム	natoriumu	Natrium	sodium (Na)	Latin via German
ニート　or NEET	nīto	Not in Employment, Education or Training	underemployed young adults, akin to "フリーター”	English
ノイローゼ	noirōze	Neurose	neurosis	German
ノークレームノーリターン	nōkurēmunōritān	no claim, no return	sold "as is"	English
ノルマ	noruma	норма (norma) (meaning 'standard; norm')	quota, minimum requirement (tasks)	Russian
ノート	nōto	note	a notebook (It is used with this meaning in the title of the manga series Death Note)	English
ニューハーフ	nyūhāfu	new-half	A man that has undergone a sex change operation.	English
オージー	ōjī	orgy	an orgy	English
オーバー	ōbā	over	overreaction to a situation or the end of a dating relationship	English
オードブル	ōdoburu	hors-d'œuvre (literally 'out of work')	hors-d'œuvre	French (though probably from English, which uses the same term)
OB, OG	ōbī, ōjī	old boy, old girl	alumnus, alumna, former student; furthermore used for former sport team members, employees, politicians etc., for former members of any kind of organisation likewise	English
OL	ōeru	O.L. (office lady)	female office worker, usually in a clerical or support job	English
オフ	ofu	off	a sale at a store; e.g., a "big summer off" (=big summer sale)	English
オナニー	onanī	Onanie	masturbation (see Onan)	German
オンリーワン	onrīwan	only one	(adjective) one of a kind or unique; e.g., オンリーワン技術 (~gijutsu: "only one technology") or オンリーワン商品 (~shōhin: "only one products") meaning one of a kind technology or products	English
オペ	ope	OP (short for Operation)	surgical operation, minor surgery	German
オープンカー	ōpunkā	open car	convertible (automobile)	English
オーライ	ōrai	a(ll) righ(t)	all right, OK	English
オルゴール	orugōru	orgel	a music box or any instrument that operates off of a music roll such as a calliope	Dutch
オートバイ	ōtobai	auto bi(cycle)	motorcycle, motorbike	English
パイン	pain	pine(apple)	pineapple	English
パーマ	pāma	perma(nent wave)	perm	English
パン	pan	pão, pan	bread	Portuguese/Spanish
パネリスト	panerisuto	panelist	panelist	English
パンク	panku	punc(ture)	flat tire	English
パンスト	pansuto	pan(ty) + sto(cking)	pantyhose	English
パソコン	pasokon	perso(nal) com(puter)	PC	English
パーソナルコンピューター	pāsonaru konpyūtā	personal computer	personal computer	English
パンツ	pantsu	pants	underpants (American English), pants (British English)	British English
パパ	papa	papà	dad	Italian or Spanish
ペチカ	pechika	печка (pechka) (meaning 'little oven')	Russian oven	Russian
ペアルック	pearukku	pair look	matching outfits (usually between a couple)	English
ペニス	penisu	penis	the penis	Latin
ペンション	penshon	pension	a resort hotel / chalet / cottage	French
ペーパーカンパニー	pēpākanpanī	paper company	dummy company, shell company	English
ペーパードライバー	pēpādoraibā	paper driver	a person who has a driver's license but does not usually drive (i.e.: a driver only on paper)	English
ペーパーテスト	pēpātesuto	paper test	written examination/test	English
ピエロ	piero	pierrot	a clown	French
ピーマン	pīman	piment	sweet bell pepper	French
ピッケル	pikkeru	(Eis)pickel (meaning 'ice axe')	ice axe	German
ピンチ	pinchi	(in a) pinch	potentially disastrous situation	English
ピンセット	pinsetto	pincet	tweezers	Dutch
ポエマー	poemā	poem + -er	a poet	English and Spanish
ポケベル	pokeberu	pocke(t) bell	beeper, pager	English
ポケモン	Pokémon	pocke(t) mon(ster)	Pokémon	English
ポンプ	ponpu	pomp	pump	Dutch
ポシェット	poshetto	pochette	a small bag	French
ポスト	posuto	post	a mailbox (US), a postbox (UK)	English
プラスアルファ	purasuarufa	plus alpha (in Greek: Άλφα) (a misreading of "+ X")	in addition, a little bit more, with something else	English and Greek
プラスドライバー	purasudoraibā	plus driver	Phillips screwdriver	English
プレイガイド	pureigaido	play + guide	(theater) ticket agency	English
プリクラ	purikura	Print Club (trademark)	photo booth#purikura	English
プロ	puro	professional	describes a business professional or professional sports	English
プロフィール	purofīru	profil	a profile	French
プロレス	puroresu	pro(fessional) wrest(ling)	professional wrestling	English
プッシュホン	pusshuhon	push phone	touch-tone phone	English
ラブホテル	rabuhoteru	love hotel	love hotel (hotel used as a private place for couples to have sexual contact)	English
ライバル	raibaru	rival	A fellow competitor or an enemy	English
ライブアクション	raibuakushon	live action	animated or comic form stories made into TV shows/movies involving real actors. It's the opposite of komikarizu	English
ライブハウス	raibuhausu	live house	club with live music, rock bar	English
ライフライン	raifurain	lifeline	infrastructure	English
ラッコ	rakko	rakko	a sea otter	Ainu
ラムネ	ramune	lemona(de)	Ramune (a lemon-lime soft drink; hard, powdery candy like Rockets or Smarties)	English
ランドセル	randoseru	ransel	a hard schoolbag, worn on the back, carried by young children to school	Dutch
ランニングホームラン	ranninguhōmuran	running home run	an inside-the-park home run	English
ランニングシャツ	ranningushatsu	running shirt	a sleeveless T-shirt	English
レジュメ	rejume	résumé	a resume, an outline	French
レントゲン	rentogen	Röntgen	X-ray, X-ray medical imaging	German
レストラン	resutoran	restaurant	restaurant	French
リベンジ	ribenji	revenge	return match, rematch, chance for redemption after a failed attempt	English
リーチ	rīchi	reach	One step away from winning. Usually used in bingo.	English
リードオンリーメンバー	rīdoonrīmenbā	read-only member	an internet lurker, thought to be a pun on "read-only memory"	English
リフォーム	rifōmu	reform	remodel, renovation (as in a building)	English
リモコン	rimokon	remo(te) con(trol)	remote control	English
リンクフリー	rinkufurī	link free	free to link	English
リニューアル	rinyūaru	renewal	remodeling	English
リサイクルショップ	risaikurushoppu	recycle shop	secondhand shop (selling used or unwanted furniture, household appliances, housewares, and clothes; slightly different from non-profit or charity thrift shops in that they are fundamentally for-profit shops and perceived as one way to help reduce trash)	English
リストラ	risutora	restru(cturing)	(noun) restructuring, but with emphasis on lowering headcounts as in downsizing, termination as a redundancy; (verb) to downsize, lay off or terminate as a redundancy. When used in the passive (〜される: ~sareru), to get or have been made redundant, downsized (out of a job)	English
ロードショー	rōdoshō	roadshow (theatrical release)	premiere, especially of a film	English
ロケーションハンティング, ロケハン	rokēshonhantingu, rokehan	location hunting	location scout	English
ロマン	roman	roman	novel, something that rouses one's dreams / longings	French
ロマンスグレー	romansugurē	romance grey	silver-gray hair	English
ロマンスカー	romansukā	romance car (first used as a trademark by the Odakyu Electric Railway)	deluxe train	English
ロンパリ	ronpari	Lon(don) + Paris	slang for Strabismus (crosseyed, wandering eye), derived from the image of one eye looking toward London, and the other eye looking toward Paris	English, French
ロープウェー	rōpuwē	rope way	ropeway	English
ロリコン	rorikon	Loli(ta) com(plex)	sexual attraction to fictional and real underage girls, or ephebophilia. (reborrowed into English to refer a genre of manga-style sexual artwork involving childlike female characters)	English
ロスタイム	rosutaimu	loss time	added time, additional time	English
ルー	rū	roux	roux, most commonly used in describing the sauce of the popular dish, curry rice	French
ルポ	rupo	repo(rtage)	Reportage	French
リュックサック	ryukkusakku	Rucksack	backpack, Rucksack	German
サービス	sābisu	service	service, often used to describe something as being free of charge	English
サボる	saboru	sabo(tage) + -ru (Japanese verb ending)	to slack off, to shirk one's duties	French and Japanese
サド	sado (sometimes shortened to "S")	sadiste	sadist	French
サイドブレーキ	saidoburēki	side brake	hand brake, parking brake, emergency brake	English
サイダー	saidā	cider	a kind of soda unrelated to actual cider	English
サイン	sain	sign	signature, autograph	English
サインペン	sainpen	sign pen	marker, Trade name of Pentel's	English
サンドイッチ or サンド	sandoicchi, sando	sand(wich)	sandwich	English
サンドバッグ	sandobaggu	sandbag	punching bag	English
サラダ	sarada	salada or salad	salad	Portuguese or English
サラリーマン	sararīman	salary + man	salaryman: a salaried office/white collar worker	English
セックス	sekkusu	sex	sexual intercourse	English
セフレ	sefure	se(x) + frie(nd)	casual sexual partner	English
セクハラ	sekuhara	sex(ual) hara(ssment)	sexual harassment	English
セメダイン	semedain, Cemedine	ceme(nt) dyne	glue, adhesive. A genericized trademark of Cemedine Co., Ltd.	English
センス	sensu	sense	understanding of subtleties	English
セレブ	serebu	celeb(rity)	used to refer to a rich person, whether or not they are famous	English
セツナ	setsuna	षण (ksana)	moment	Sanskrit
シャボン玉	shabondama	sabão + 玉 (dama, ball)	soap bubble	Portuguese + Japanese
シャープペンシル or シャーペン	shāpenshiru or shāpen	shar(p) pencil or shar(p) pen(cil) (referring to Sharp Corporation, a manufacturer of mechanical pencils)	mechanical pencil	English
シーエム	shīemu	C.M. (Commercial Message)	television commercial	English
シール	shīru	seal	sticker, decal	English
シルバーシート	shirubāshīto	silver seat (referring to the silver hair of elderly passengers)	priority seating on public transportation	English
シュークリーム	shūkurīmu	chou (à la) crème	a cream puff	French, English
ソフト	sofuto	soft(ware)	video game console or computer software; also used to describe tasks or work (such as design) requiring imagination, foresight, and intuition	English
ソフトクリーム	sofutokurīmu or softcream	soft (ice) cream	soft serve (ice cream)	English
ソーラーシステム	sōrāshisutemu	solar system	a solar battery	English
すべた or スベタ	subeta	espada	unattractive woman (spade)	Portuguese
スイートルーム	suītorūmu	suite room	a suite in a hotel	English
スカイ	sukai	sky	a bib, said to come from the name of an American clothing maker who sold bibs	English
スケボー	sukebō	ska(te)bo(ard)	skateboard	English
スケルトン	sukeruton	skeleton	translucent	English
スキー	sukī	ski	used as a noun to refer to skiing	English
スキンシップ	sukinshippu	skin + -ship	skinship (bonding through physical contact)	English
スコップ	sukoppu	schop	trowel, spade, shovel	Dutch
スマート	sumāto	smart	slim, stylish, well-dressed, cool, handsome	English
スムーズ	sumūzu	smooth (transaction)	When a plan or transaction happens without incident	English
スーパー	sūpā	super(market)	supermarket	English
スパッツ, スパッツタイツ	supattsu, supattsutaitsu	spats, spats tights	tights (US), leggings	English
スペル	superu	spell	used as a noun to mean "spelling"	English
スピン	supin	spin	a ribbon or tassel on a book	English
スポイト	supoito	spuit	syringe, dropper	Dutch
スリーサイズ	surīsaizu	three size	three primary female body measurements (bust, waist, hips)	English
ストライキ or スト	sutoraiki or suto	strike or st(rike)	labor strike	English
ストレートティー	sutorētotī	straight tea	black tea without milk or lemon
ストーブ	sutōbu	stove	space heater	English
スーツアクター	sūtsuakutā	suits actor	suit actor, an actor who performs wearing a cartoon-character costume	English
タバコ, たばこ or 煙草	tabako	tabaco	tobacco, cigarette	Portuguese
タイムオーバー	taimuōbā	time over	when a time limit has been reached	English
タイムリー	taimurī	timely (hit)	a clutch hit (in baseball), on time	English
タオルケット	taoruketto	towelket (towel + (blan)ket)	a type of blanket made of a material similar to a beach or bath towel	English
タレント	tarento	talent	TV personality/celebrity	English
テーマ	tēma	Thema	theme	German
テンキー	tenkī	ten key	numeric keypad	English
てんぷら or 天ぷら	tenpura	tempura	tempura (culinary term)	Latin
テンション	tenshon	tension	a state of excitement	English
テレビ	terebi	televi(sion)	television	English
テレビゲーム	terebigēmu	televi(sion) game	video game	English
テレカ	tereka	tele(phone) ca(rd)	prepaid card for using public telephones	English
ティーンエージャー	tīn'ējā	Teenager	A person in their teens	English
トーチカ	tōchika	точка (tochka) (meaning 'point')	bunker	Russian
トイレ(ット)	toire(tto)	toile(t)	toilet, bathroom, washroom, restroom	English
トナカイ	tonakai	tunakkay	reindeer/caribou	Ainu
トンカツ	tonkatsu	"ton," the on'yomi reading for 豚 (pork) + "katsu" from the English word "cutlet"	pork cutlet	English
トラブル(noun), トラブる(verb)	toraburu	trouble	(noun) (legal) trouble, a dispute or altercation; (verb) to encounter or experience trouble, to break down or not function as expected (e.g., a device)	English
トランプ	toranpu	trump(s)	playing cards	English
トレーナー	torēnā	trainer	a sweat shirt	English
トレーニングパンツ	torēningupantsu	training pants	pants for toddlers or babies; diaper	English
ウィンカー or ウインカー	winkā or uinkā	winker	turn signal, a.k.a. blinker or indicator on an automobile	English
ウーパールーパー	ūpārūpā or WuperRuper	(s)uper	an axolotl	English
ヴァイキング	vaikingu	viking	smorgasbord, buffet. It is said that this originated from the restaurant "Imperial Viking" in the Imperial Hotel, which was the first restaurant in Japan to serve buffet-style meals, named after the 1958 American film The Vikings.	English
ヴァージンロード	vājinrōdo	virgin road	the aisle (in a Western-style or Christian wedding ceremony, as followed by the bridal procession)	English
ワイシャツ or Yシャツ	waishatsu	Y shirt (modification of "white shirt")	dress shirt (of any color)	English
ワンパターン	wanpatān	one pattern	of (artificial or boring) uniformity or conformity, lacking of (spontaneous) variation. Used to describe behavior and responses as well as objects. Being "in a rut"	English
ワンピース	wanpīsu	one piece	(a single-piece) dress	English
ワープロ	wāpuro	wor(d) pro(cessor)	word processor	English
ウォシュレット	woshuretto	washlet (wash+(toi)let)	a toilet with a built-in bidet (a genericized trademark of TOTO Ltd.)	English
ヨット	yotto	yacht	a sailboat or yacht	English
ヤンエグ	yan'egu	youn(g) ex(ecutive)	young executive	English
ヨード	yōdo	Jod	iodine	German
ヨードチンキ	yōdochinki	Jodtinktur	tincture of iodine	German
ユニットバス	yunittobasu	unit bath	modular bath, prefabricated bath	English
Uターンラッシュ	yūtānrasshu	u-turn rush	the rush of traffic and people, and attendant traffic jams and crowding of transportation facilities, that occurs as everyone returns home after extended holidays, esp. New Year's, Golden Week, and the summer o-bon week.	English
ザイル	zairu	Seil (meaning 'rope')	rope (used in a climbing context, in preference to the general term 'rōpu')	German
ゼミナール or ゼミ	zemināru or zemi	Seminar or Semi(nar)	seminar	German
ゼン	zen	ध्यान (Dhyāna)	a meditation	Sanskrit
ゼロ	zero	zéro	zero	French
ズボン	zubon	jupon (meaning petticoat)	trousers (British English), pants (American English)	French

See also

• List of Japanese Latin alphabetic abbreviations
• List of Japanese terms mistaken for gairaigo
• List of English words of Japanese origin
• Engrish
• Japanese abbreviated and contracted words
• Japanese words of Portuguese origin
• Japanese words of Dutch origin
• False cognates

References

• Takashi Ichikawa, et al. (1998). Sanseidō New Modern Dictionary (三省堂現代新国語辞典, Sanseidō-gendai-shin-kokugo-jiten), Tokyo, Japan: Sanseido Co., Ltd. ISBN 4-385-14034-0.

External links

• (Japanese) List of Japanese words of French origin (Japanese Wikipedia)