59 Japanese Slang Words To Make You Sound Local

62

You’ve learned standard Japanese from formal learning resources, but have you ever wanted to try stretching your language muscles with some native-friendly banter? Japanese slang words are perfect for mixing the vocabulary and grammar rules you’ve learned with real-life casual conversation. Although there’s a time and a place for everything, the odds are that if you attach Japanese honorifics like chan (～ちゃん) or kun (～くん) to your conversation partner’s name, it’s safe to use slang! 

Knowing what’s currently appropriate, cool, and outdated is crucial for using slang effectively. This guide of 59 slang words will set you up for not only using them yourself but also understanding others when they speak or write with less formal language. When you’re ready to practice, Japanese language tutoring is a great way to try out your new vocabulary in a low-stakes environment and receive feedback and tips for integrating slang into conversation.

How do you use slang in Japanese?

Using slang in Japanese is similar to using it in your native language. Slang replaces more standard, formal words (or even whole phrases and expressions) to add a sense of familiarity and modernity to a conversation. It can also simply change the pronunciation of a word to make it faster to say or just for fun (like “gonna” instead of “going to” or “yas” instead of “yes”).

In Japanese, slang often makes liberal use of the Japanese alphabets instead of kanji. This leaves no question as to how words are pronounced. Most slang can be written with either hiragana or katakana, but using katakana can add a “cool” factor due to its primary use as an alphabet for foreign words.

It’s also important to understand the meaning of the word you’re using before you use it! Misusing slang can be funny, but you may also stumble into an embarrassing faux pas.

Osu and other Japanese slang expressions

Some ways to say “hi” in Japanese can be used as slang, but other greetings and expressions also fall into the same category. Using words like these instead of their formal, spelled-out versions can make conversations with friends less stiff. They’re also perfect for text conversations!

Otaku and other Japanese slang to describe people

Instead of using adjectives to describe a person, a special word can be used to describe them all on its own. Are you obsessed with a hot guy in that band you like? You might be an otaku for that ikemen! 

Many of these Japanese slang words are portmanteaus, meaning they combine two words to make one new one. For example, your bff (zuttomo, ずっ友) is your always (zutto, ずっと) friend (tomo, 友).

Donmai and other slang words for feelings and experiences

Slang lets us express heightened feelings through stronger words and amplifiers. The word totemo (とても) is a standard Japanese adverb for “very,” but there are several slang variations that infuse more emotion into the sentiment. Take a look at these example sentences to see how maji can add emphasis by turning into slang for bruh in Japanese or exaggerating a phrase.

• Kekkon shita no?! Maji?!（結婚したの？！マジ？！）= You got married?! Bruh!!
• Maji de saikō!（マジで最高！）= That’s awesome, for real!

Dekai and other adjectives used as slang

Adjectives in Japanese slang are unique in that their pronunciation can change, adding a stronger nuance. In some cases, the final i (い) can be dropped entirely to create a shocked pause at the end of the word. It can also turn into an e sound, which leans toward a masculine nuance. 

• Yaba! Sugoi oishii, kore!（やばっ！すごい美味しい、これ！）= Omg! This tastes amazing!
• Dekē nā, koko wa.（でけぇなぁ、ここは。）= This place is freaking huge.

Guguru and other slang verbs

Like slang adjectives, Japanese slang verbs can be further changed through pronunciation.  There’s already a casual Japanese verb conjugation, but slang can take it even further, as shown in these examples:

• Wakaranai (分からない。） = Wakannai（分かんない。）= I dunno.
• Ii ja nai.（いいじゃない。）= Ii jan.（いいじゃん。）= Sounds good to me. 

Many of these verbs use Japanese loanwords from English combined with Japanese verb endings to create a new word. For example, bazuru (バズる) means “to go viral,” but it’s based on the word “buzz.”

Warota and other examples of Japanese internet slang

Just like in other languages, Japanese internet slang is ever changing with new words and phrases entering the lexicon on a weekly basis. Platforms like insuta (インスタ, Instagram) and tikkutokku (ティックトック, TikTok) are common places for the latest slang to pop up. Try following a few people who post in Japanese on social media to stay current!

Just like how using phrases like “sus,” “on fleek,” or “let them cook” can point to your age or familiarity with internet culture, using current or outdated internet slang in Japanese can be counterproductive in your endeavor to be cool. Proceed with caution but have fun looking for words like these on social media.

Frequently asked questions about Japanese slang words

It’s natural to be curious about Japanese slang and how to use it. Slang words are fun, and weaving them into conversations can help you sound more native. Finding ways to immerse yourself in Japanese will also help you feel more confident using them. 

When can I use slang in Japanese?

Try to limit Japanese slang to casual conversations, such as among friends and family. If it would be appropriate to use slang in an English conversation, it’s probably appropriate in a Japanese conversation, too.

What does “yabai” mean in Japanese?

Yabai (ヤバい) is used to express surprise, excitement, concern, dismay, and everything in between. Close English equivalents would be “No way!” or “omg!” because of the variety of situations they fit into.

Why do Japanese people say “wwwww” on the internet?

The letter w in Japanese writing online means “lol,” so repeated w’s in writing means “lololol.” This comes from the first sound of warau (笑う), which means “to laugh.” You may also see the kanji character for “grass” (草) as a replacement because multiple w’s can look like grass sprouting from the ground.