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How to say 'Loanword' in Japanese | 外来語

Wondering how to say 'Loanword' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Loanword is 'Gairaigo', written as 外来語 in Japanese.'Loanword' in hiragana is がいらいご.

    Meaning

    Loanword

    Reading

    がいらいご

    gairaigo

    Kanji

    Outside Come Language, Word

    Explanation

    The Japanese noun '外来語 (がいらいご)' refers to a 'loanword', which is a word adopted from a foreign language and incorporated into Japanese. These words are often written in katakana to distinguish them from native Japanese words or Sino-Japanese vocabulary. Loanwords are commonly derived from English, Portuguese, Dutch, and other languages, reflecting Japan's historical and cultural exchanges. For example: 'computer' is a loanword「コンピュータは外来語です」(コンピュータはがいらいごです). 'Bread' is also a loanword「パンは外来語です」(パンはがいらいごです). Loanwords are widely used in modern Japanese, especially in fields like technology, fashion, and food.

    Part Of Speech

    noun

    Kanji JLPT

    N5

    Kanji Grade

    2

    Frequency

    2471

    Composition

    kanji

    Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 外来語

This word contains 3 kanji characters:

  • kanji

    Meaning

    Outside

  • kanji

    Meaning

    Come

  • kanji

    Meaning

    Language, Word

Words Related to 外来語 Through the Kanji

These 29 Words contain the Kanji 外 as well.

  • word

    Meaning

    Outside

  • word

    以外

    Meaning

    Except

  • word

    外人

    Meaning

    Foreigner

  • word

    外国人

    Meaning

    Foreigner

  • word

    外国語

    Meaning

    Foreign language

  • word

    外国

    Meaning

    Foreign country

  • word

    海外

    Meaning

    Overseas

  • word

    外す

    Meaning

    Remove, Miss

  • word

    意外

    Meaning

    Unexpected

  • word

    外出

    Meaning

    Outing

  • word

    外食

    Meaning

    Eating out

  • word

    国外

    Meaning

    Abroad

  • word

    外部

    Meaning

    Outside

  • word

    外交

    Meaning

    Diplomacy, Foreign relations

  • word

    案外

    Meaning

    Unexpectedly

  • word

    例外

    Meaning

    Exception

  • word

    外相

    Meaning

    Foreign minister

  • word

    外観

    Meaning

    Appearance

  • word

    外貨

    Meaning

    Foreign currency

  • word

    外れる

    Meaning

    Detach, Miss

  • word

    外務省

    Meaning

    Foreign affairs

  • word

    外科

    Meaning

    Surgery

  • word

    外側

    Meaning

    Outside

  • word

    外れ

    Meaning

    End, Miss

  • word

    郊外

    Meaning

    Suburbs

  • word

    町外れ

    Meaning

    Outskirts

  • word

    外務

    Meaning

    Foreign affairs

  • word

    外来

    Meaning

    Foreign

  • word

    内外

    Meaning

    Inside outside, Domestic foreign

Words Related to 外来語 Through the Kanji

These 27 Words contain the Kanji 来 as well.

  • word

    来る

    Meaning

    Come

  • word

    出来る

    Meaning

    Can, Be made

  • word

    来月

    Meaning

    Next month

  • word

    来週

    Meaning

    Next week

  • word

    持って来る

    Meaning

    Bring

  • word

    将来

    Meaning

    Future

  • word

    以来

    Meaning

    Since

  • word

    連れて来る

    Meaning

    Bring

  • word

    従来

    Meaning

    Tradition

  • word

    再来年

    Meaning

    Year after next

  • word

    再来月

    Meaning

    Month after next

  • word

    再来週

    Meaning

    Week after next

  • word

    未来

    Meaning

    Future

  • word

    行き来

    Meaning

    Coming and going

  • word

    元来

    Meaning

    Originally

  • word

    出来事

    Meaning

    Event

  • word

    出来上がる

    Meaning

    Complete

  • word

    由来

    Meaning

    Origin

  • word

    やって来る

    Meaning

    Come

  • word

    来日

    Meaning

    Arrival

  • word

    出来上がり

    Meaning

    Completion

  • word

    出来るだけ

    Meaning

    As much as possible

  • word

    本来

    Meaning

    Originally

  • word

    来年

    Meaning

    Next year

  • word

    Meaning

    Next

  • word

    如来

    Meaning

    Buddha

  • word

    外来

    Meaning

    Foreign

Words Related to 外来語 Through the Kanji

These 14 Words contain the Kanji 語 as well.

  • word

    Meaning

    Word

  • word

    語る

    Meaning

    Tell

  • word

    外国語

    Meaning

    Foreign language

  • word

    英語

    Meaning

    English

  • word

    言語

    Meaning

    Language

  • word

    物語

    Meaning

    Tale

  • word

    敬語

    Meaning

    Honorifics

  • word

    語学

    Meaning

    Languages

  • word

    共通語

    Meaning

    Common language

  • word

    用語

    Meaning

    Term

  • word

    国語

    Meaning

    National language, Japanese language

  • word

    単語

    Meaning

    Word

  • word

    和語

    Meaning

    Native word

  • word

    物語る

    Meaning

    Indicate, Tell

Learn the Word 外来語

Let's make sure you fully understand this word.

What does 'Gairaigo' (外来語) mean?

'Gairaigo' means 'Loanword' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.