These 280 Japanese Loanwords Make It Easier to Learn Japanese

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With globalization and the ubiquity of the internet, it’s easier than ever for countries to exchange ideas and information. One result of this interplay is the boom of loanwords.

Loanwords are words taken from one language and adapted into another language’s vocabulary. There are innumerable Japanese loanwords, and around 90% are adapted from English. This means you can quickly learn hundreds of Japanese words!

When learning English loanwords in Japanese, the writing system of katakana in the Japanese alphabet is your ally because the main purpose of katakana is to indicate a loanword. This guide introduces you to 280 Japanese loanwords for food, shopping, clothing, travel, and more!

How are Japanese loanwords different from English?

There are sounds in English that don’t exist in Japanese, which affects the pronunciation. The ones you see the most are “l” and “v.” Because Japanese doesn’t include these letters, “l” becomes “r” and “v” becomes “b.” In addition, vowels often adjust between the two languages.

Sometimes the logic behind Japanese words borrowed from English isn’t obvious at first glance. Words that vary considerably from the original English are referred to as wasei eigo. However, many Japanese loanwords are simply abbreviations that are different from how we abbreviate in English. For example, Japanese shortens the word “television” to become terebi. 

Whether you’re wanting to know how to order food in Japanese or need to learn some basic Japanese words for travel, the following loanwords can make your language learning journey so much easier!

Japanese loanwords for food and drinks

Food is such a fundamental part of our everyday lives, which makes food-related vocabulary important to master. 

We’re fortunate that rāmen and sushi have crossed over from Japanese cuisine, and because they’ve kept their original names, you already know these two Japanese words! Japan has likewise received delicious food from other countries. Countless food items are loanwords in Japanese, and the list only keeps growing as more dishes come over from other locales.

If you go to a Western-inspired restaurant in Japan, you’re sure to see katakana scattered throughout the menu. By sounding out the characters, you can figure out what something means, even without officially learning the word!

Beef and pork are more often called by their purely Japanese names (gyūniku and butaniku, respectively), but bīfu and pōku are also accepted.

Fruit loanwords

Fruit has historically been a major trading good. Consequently, fruits not native to Japan have developed loanword names. 

Vegetable loanwords

Japan has exported some of its own vegetables, such as shītake mushrooms, daikon radishes, and edamame. As vegetables from other countries come from overseas into Japan, the names of the veggies are often loanwords.

Loanwords for sweets

Did you know that many of the photo-worthy sweets you see on social media come from Japan? These delicious treats also have names that are loanwords.

Tableware and utensils loanwords

As Japanese people in the past only ate with hashi (箸; chopsticks), Western-style utensils are typically loanwords. 

Loanwords for drinks

If you want something beyond mizu (水; water), most drink names are English-derived loanwords.

From Japanese, English adopted the loanwords matcha and sake. However, when o-sake is said in Japan, it refers broadly to any kind of alcohol.

Loanwords at a cafe

If you’d like something with caffeine to perk you up, there are plenty of great cafes in Japan. They often sell seasonal drinks you can’t find elsewhere, such as cherry blossom lattes in the spring!

Japanese loanwords for recreation

Many people develop an interest in Japanese through hobbies. Maybe you enjoy manga or anime, or do a sport that originated in Japan, such as karate or jūdō. These recreation-related Japanese loanwords can help you delve deeper into your interests.

Loanwords for entertainment genres

Almost all genres, whether film, books, or otherwise, are loanwords in Japanese.

Loanwords for music

Music is an important part of Japanese culture, including the popular pastime of karaoke. Some bands from Japan that are internationally recognized—such as One Ok Rock or Babymetal—even have loanwords in their names!

Loanwords for sports and exercise

Sports are a major part of many people’s lives. The most popular sport in Japan is yakyū (野球; baseball), and most sports are loanwords in Japanese.

Different parts of Tōkyō are famous for shopping. Ginza is where you’ll find high-end items, Shibuya is known for street fashion, and the area of Kichijōji has recently become popular for its large shopping street. These words associated with shopping are Japanese loanwords.

Japanese loanwords for clothes

You can find great clothing deals in Japan, such as at thrift store chains Chicago and Mode Off!

Watch out for the word pantsu, though. You’d assume this means “pants,” but it doesn’t—at least not in American English. It’s based on the British English definition of “pants,” which is “underpants” or “underwear.”

Loanwords for accessories

Japanese people are overall more conservative with their accessories, which may explain why accessory words tend to be loanwords. When you see dangly earrings sold in Japan, they’re probably clip-ons in order to avoid stretching. 

Japanese loanwords for technology

Modern words are especially likely to become Japanese loanwords. As a result, the majority of terms related to technology are loanwords.

Japanese loanwords for the home

Some of the things you interact with most on a daily basis are the things you find at home, many of which are loanwords in Japanese.