Do you think Japanese is difficult to learn and has nothing in common with English? Well, that’s a lie! I mean, yes, Japanese may be a little difficult to learn, as we discussed in one of our previous articles. But did you know that there are tons of Japanese words that sound like English?
How? That’s what this article is about! Let’s find out how “Japanglish” mixes up the Japanese language and the English language.
But first, let’s take a short quiz to find out how many Japanglish words you already know!
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Quiz: Test Your Knowledge On Japanese Words That Sound Like English
Why Are So Many Japanese Words Similar To English?
Some Japanese words have the same meaning as English words, while others have a different meaning. There are two main reasons why Japanese words sound like English:
- They are either loanwords borrowed from English or,
- They are wasei-eigo words: “English words made in Japan.”
Now, let’s take a look at them one by one.
1. Loanwords
Loanwords (gairai-go – 外来語) in Japanese didn’t only come from English. Indeed, the very first borrowed terms were from foreign languages such as Portuguese, French, German, and Dutch. It wasn’t until the end of World War II that the Japanese language started to borrow English words. And since then, Japanglish has continued to grow with the addition of new loanwords and has become more popular.
When it comes to speaking Japanglish, the young Japanese generation often uses loanwords in day-to-day conversations, but the old generation may not even know what they mean.
Loanwords are always written in the katakana Japanese writing system and pronounced and transcribed with Japanese pronunciation rules. Here is what you need to know:
Consonants in Japanese end with one of these vowels: あ(a), い(i), う(u), え(e), お(o).
There’s no distinction between L and R sounds in Japanese; that’s why “L” sounds in English are pronounced using “R” in Japanese.
Here are a few examples:
- Ice cream – aisu kurīmu (アイスクリーム)
- Beer – bīru (ビール)
- Taxi – takushī (タクシー)
You can learn more about Japanese pronunciation here!
Here’s a vocabulary list with common loanwords in Japanese. These loanwords have the same meaning as their English counterparts.
| English | Japanese | Pronunciation | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glass | グラス | gurasu | |
| Fork | フォーク | fōku | |
| Knife | ナイフ | naifu | |
| Bus | バス | basu | |
| Internet | インターネット | intānetto | |
| Website | ウェブサイト | webusaito | |
| Hotel | ホテル | hoteru | |
| Restaurant | レストラン | resutoran | |
| Elevator | エレベーター | erebētā | |
| Size | サイズ | saizu |
2. Wasei-Eigo
Wasei-eigo, meaning “English made in Japan”, is a bit different from regular loanwords. They are still borrowed English words, but they don’t have the same meanings as their English counterparts.
For example, the Japanese word consento (コンセント) can remind you of concepts like “consent” and “permission”. That’s not even close to its Japanese meaning! In Japanese, it actually means “electrical outlet.”
Here’s a vocabulary list with common wasei-eigo words in Japanese.
| English | Japanese | Pronunciation | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment (bigger) | マンション | manshon | |
| Apartment (smaller) | アパート | apāto | |
| Makeup | メイク | meiku | |
| Entertainer | タレント | tarento | |
| Cheating on an exam | カンニング | kanningu | |
| Pancake | ホットケーキ | hotto kēki | |
| Supermarket | スーパー | sūpā | |
| Do your best! | ファイト! | faito! | |
| Very excited | ハイテンション | hai tenshon |
What Is Japanglish?
As you may have realized, I’ve used the term “Japanglish” a few times in this article. If you have no idea what Japanglish is or how it originated, this part is for you.
Japanglish is a so-called language mix of Japanese and English. By now, I bet you have one question in mind… Why did Japanglish emerge?
Well, here’s my take on this: Japanglish wasn’t invented on purpose. It emerged naturally because of the differences between the Japanese and English languages.
All non-native English speakers speak with an accent coming from their native language, but it’s not as dominant as the accent of Japanese people. That’s because they try to speak English with a different syllabary and some sounds that English has but Japanese doesn’t. For instance, there’s no “L”, “V”, or “TH” in the Japanese language.
A Few Tips To Pronounce Japanglish Words
Here are a few things worth knowing when dealing with Japanglish words and phrases:
- All Japanese words end with a vowel (except for the letter “n”). That’s why the word “bus” becomes basu.
- Japanese pronunciation is stable; it doesn’t change, no matter what.
- There is no “si” sound; it’s “shi” in Japanese. That’s why the word “seem” becomes sheemu.
- There is no “fi” sound; it’s “hi”. That’s why the word “coffee” becomes kohee.
- There is no clear “R” or “L” sounds in Japanese.
I could make this list go forever, but let’s save it for another article. You can read this article on Japanglish published by CNN Travel if you want to learn more about the subject.
Japanese Words That Sound Like English
When it comes to Japanese loanwords, we can divide them into three categories based on the way they are formed.
1. Short Word Combinations
These Japanese loanwords are made from two or more English words combined and shortened into one word. They usually consist of four syllables. Here are some examples:
- Remote controller (remote + controller) – rimokon (リモコン)
- Mass media (mass + communication) – masukomi (マスコミ)
- Air conditioner (air + conditioner) – eakon (エアコン)
- Image change (image + change) – imechen (イメチェン)
2. Words That Combine English And Japanese
These words are formed by combining an English word and a Japanese word. Here are some examples:
- Energy-saving (save 省＋ energy) – shōene (省エネ)
- Nostalgic song (nostalgic 懐 + melody) – natsumero (懐メロ)
- Italian food (Italian + meal 飯) – itameshi (イタ飯)
- Sprint (fierce 猛 + dash) – mōdasshu (猛ダッシュ)
3. Loanwords Turned Into Japanese Verbs
These words turn into a Japanese verb by adding the Japanese verb suru (する), meaning “to do,” after a loanword. Here are some examples:
- To knock (knock + suru) – nokku suru (ノックする)
- To jog (jogging + suru) – jogingu suru (ジョギングする )
- To put on makeup (make + suru) – meiku suru (メイクする)
- To party (party + o + suru) – pātī o suru (パーティーをする)
Bonus: Famous Brand Names In Japanese
If you don’t know how Japanese people say famous brand names, you won’t understand what brand they are talking about, since their pronunciation is pretty different. Here are a few examples:
- Google – Gūguru (グーグル)
- Apple – Appuru (アップル)
- Starbucks – Sutābakkusu (スターバックス)
- Kentucky Fried Chicken – Kentakkī furaido chikin (ケンタッキー フライド チキン)
- McDonald’s – Makudonarudo (マクドナルド)
How Do You Say “Japanese Words That Sound Like English” In Japanese?
You can call these words gairaigo (外来語), which literally means “loanwords from overseas.”
While gairaigo covers words borrowed from any foreign language, thanks to the huge influence of American culture, if you hear a Japanese word that sounds like English, it’s almost certainly a gairaigo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Japanese Words That Sound Like English
What Are Japanese English Words Called?
There are two main types: Words borrowed directly from English are called gairaigo (外来語). On the other hand, words that are invented in Japan using English parts but have a unique meaning are called wasei-eigo (和製英語), or “Japanese-made English.”
Why Are There So Many English Words In Japanese?
A significant number of words in modern Japanese are loanwords borrowed from other languages, with English being the most common source since the end of World War II.
Japanese often adopts these “loanwords from outside,” to describe new concepts, technologies, and trends, giving them a modern, international feel.
Does Japanese Have Words From Other Languages Besides English?
Of course. Japanese has a long history of borrowing words from various cultures. For instance, pan (パン) for “bread” comes from Portuguese, and arubaito (アルバイト) for “part-time job” comes from German. You can also find loanwords from French, Dutch, and many other languages integrated into daily Japanese .
So, What’s The Deal With Japanese And English?
As we’ve seen, Japanese and English are far from strangers. The secret to all those familiar-sounding words boils down to two main categories: gairaigo (外来語), which are direct loanwords like aisu kurīmu for “ice cream,” and wasei-eigo (和製英語), the fun “Japanese-made English” words like manshon for an apartment, not a mansion.
So the next time you hear a word that sounds like English with a Japanese twist, you’ll be in on the secret. Whether it’s a straightforward loanword or a creative wasei-eigo invention, you now have the key to understanding a huge and lively part of everyday Japanese. I bet you’d do great if you retake our quiz from the beginning now that you know all this!
Now, let’s end this article with a fun song that perfectly describes everything we’ve discussed so far:
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