How to say 'What' in Japanese | えっ

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

The Japanese word for What is 'E-', written as えっ in Japanese.

word

えっ

Meaning

What

Reading

E-

Explanation

The Japanese interjection 'えっ' (e-) is used to express surprise, disbelief, or confusion. It is often used in casual conversation when reacting to something unexpected or when seeking clarification. This interjection is highly context-dependent and can convey a range of emotions depending on tone and situation. For example: What? I didn't hear you「えっ？聞こえなかった」(えっ？きこえなかった). What? That can't be true「えっ？それは本当ですか？」(えっ？それはほんとうですか？). The interjection is typically followed by a question or a pause, as it invites further explanation or repetition from the speaker.

Part Of Speech

interjection

Frequency

4537

Composition

hiragana

Handwriting

Hiragana in the Word えっ

This word contains 2 Hiragana characters :

hiragana

え

Reading

hiragana

つ

Reading

Tsu

Learn the Word えっ

Let's make sure you fully understand this word.

What does 'E-' (えっ) mean?

'E-' means 'What' .

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