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 Hepburn romanization 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  listen  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
アンサー ansā answer reply to a question, solution to a problem English
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 Dutch
アウトコース autokōsu out course outside English
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 "butting 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 etchi H (likely from the first letter of hentai) dirty, naughty; sex (the etymology of etchi is still debated by Japanese linguists) English
ファイナル fainaru final last 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  listen  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 fetchi 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 haitatchi 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; also- intestines when served for yakiniku or hotpot German
ホース hōsu hoos a hose Dutch
ホッチキス hotchikisu 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  listen  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 kitchinpēpā 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 kyatchibōru catch ball the game of catch English
キャッチホン kyatchihon catch phone call waiting English
キャッチコピー kyatchikopī 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)[1] 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
メーカー mēkā maker manufacturer English
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 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
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
オーディエンス ōdiensu audience group of people who participate in a show 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 sandoitchi, 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 क्षण (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
テレフォン terefon telephone a system that converts acoustic vibrations to electrical signals in order to transmit sound, over a distance using wire or radio. 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

Notes

  1. ↑ Takie Sugiyama Lebra; Henshall, Kenneth G. (November 2000). "Review of Dimensions of Japanese Society: Gender, Margins and Mainstream by Kenneth G. Henshall". The Journal of Asian Studies. The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 59, No. 4. 59 (4): 1019–1020. doi:10.2307/2659245. JSTOR 2659245.

References

External links

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