Here are Japanese words that sound like English. Check it out here!
Languages don’t exist in isolation. Throughout history, words have migrated from one language to another, enriching and evolving both. Nowhere is this more evident than in Japanese, where a surprising number of words sound and resemble their English counterparts.
This “Japanglish” phenomenon reflects a fascinating mix of cultural exchange, adaptation, and linguistic creativity.
Let’s delve into the different ways Japanese has incorporated English words.
Page Contents
Japanese Words That Sound Like English
Direct Loanwords (Gairaigo)
These are words adopted directly from English, often with slight pronunciation adjustments. Imagine ordering パン (pan) for breakfast or checking into a ホテル (hoteru). Here are some more examples:
| English Word | Japanese Word | Meaning |
| Taxi | タクシー (takushī) | Taxi |
| Coffee | コーヒー (kōhī) | Coffee |
| Computer | コンピューター (konpyūtā) | Computer |
| Ice cream | アイスクリーム (aisukurīmu) | Ice cream |
Wasei-eigo
These are Japanese-created words using English components, often with unique meanings.
Brace yourself for some creative wordplay:
| English Word | Japanese Word | Meaning |
| Convenience | コンビニ (konbini) | Convenience store (literally “convenience convenience”) |
| Karaoke | カラオケ (karaoke) | Singing along with music (literally “empty orchestra”) |
| Part-time | アルバイト (arubaito) | Part-time job (literally “half work”) |
| Smartphone | スマホ (sumaho) | Smartphone (abbreviation of “smartphone”) |
Short Word Combinations
These are formed by combining two or more English words:
Wasei-eigo, literally meaning “Japanese-made English,” goes beyond simply adopting English words. It’s a fascinating phenomenon where Japanese takes English components and creates entirely new words with unique meanings.
This creativity reflects cultural exchange, adaptation, and the playful spirit of language.
Here’s a deeper dive into Wasei-eigo:
Types:
- Compound words: Combining English words, like カラオケ (karaoke): empty orchestra or アルバイト (arubaito): half work.
- Hybrid words: Mixing English and Japanese elements, like ファミレス (famiresu): family restaurant or マクドナルドおじさん (makudonarudo ojisan): McDonald’s uncle (a middle-aged man who frequents McDonald’s).
- Abbreviation: Shortening English phrases, like スマホ (sumaho): smartphone or コンビニ (konbini): convenience store.
- Onomatopoeia: Adapting English sounds, like チャイム (chaimu): chime or ピーポー (pīpō): police siren.
| English Words | Japanese Word | Meaning |
| Brunch + Lunch | ブランチ (buranchi) | Brunch |
| Takeout + Delivery | テイクアウト (tekiautomu) | Takeout |
| Shopping + Mall | ショッピングモール (shoppingu mōru) | Shopping mall |
| Selfie | セルフィー (serufī) | Selfie |
| Manhole | マンホール (manhōru) | Manhole |
| One-night stand | ワンナイトスタンド (wan naito sutando) | One-night stand |
Words Combining English and Japanese
Beyond directly adopting English words or creating Wasei-eigo, Japanese also blends English and Japanese elements directly within single words.
This fascinating fusion showcases the unique ways languages interact and adapt to cultural influences.
Types of Combinations:
- Front-back combinations: English word + Japanese word, like イタリアン (Itarian) for Italian food or ビジネスホテル (bijinesu hoteru) for business hotel.
- Back-front combinations: Japanese word + English word, like 目撃証人 (me撃証人) for eyewitness (literally “eye-encounter witness”) or 恋愛シミュレーションゲーム (ren’ai shimyurēshon gēmu) for romance simulation game.
- Compound translations: Combining English and Japanese meanings, like 満員電車 (man’in densha) for packed train (literally “full-person train”) or 高速道路 (kōsoku dōro) for highway (literally “high-speed road”).
- Abbreviation hybrids: Mixing English and Japanese letters, like スマホ (sumaho) for smartphone or ファミレス (famiresu) for family restaurant.
| English Word | Japanese Word | Meaning |
| Italian + Food | イタ飯 (itameshi) | Italian food |
| Business + Hotel | ビジネスホテル (bijinesu hoteru) | Business hotel |
| Fashion + Show | ファッションショー (fasshon shō) | Fashion show |
Loanwords Turned Verbs
Loanwords turned verbs are a fascinating phenomenon in Japanese where English loanwords are transformed into verbs by adding the versatile verb する (suru), meaning “to do”.
This process allows Japanese to readily adopt and integrate new concepts and actions from English into their daily vocabulary. Here’s a deeper dive into this category:
Mechanism:
The verb-making process is straightforward. Simply take the English loanword (usually a noun) and add the verb ending “する” (suru) after it.
For example, the English word “download” becomes ダウンロードする (daraunrōdo suru), meaning “to download”.
| English Word | Japanese Word | Meaning |
| Jog | ジョギングする (jogingu suru) | To jog |
| Work | ワークする (wāku suru) | To work |
| Download | ダウンロードする (daraunrōdo suru) | To download |
| Install | プリントする (purinto suru) | To install |
| Edit | 編集する (henshū suru) | To edit |
Famous Brand Names in Japanglish
Even brands get the Japanglish treatment:
| Brand | Japanese Name | Meaning |
| グーグル (gūgūru) | ||
| Starbucks | スターバックス (sutābakkusu) | Starbucks |
| McDonald’s | マクドナルド (makudonarudo) | McDonald’s |
These are just a few examples of the diverse ways Japanese has embraced English words.
This phenomenon reflects not only cultural exchange but also linguistic adaptation. While some argue that excessive loanwords threaten Japan’s unique language, others see it as a natural evolution enriching expression.
Ultimately, Japanese words that sound like English showcase the fascinating dynamism of languages.
They bridge cultures, spark curiosity, and remind us that communication transcends borders and shapes language in unexpected ways.
So next time you encounter a “Japanglish” term, appreciate the story of cultural exchange and linguistic creativity it embodies.
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