30 Japanese Loanwords From English & Beyond

Loanwords – foreign words that have been adopted into the Japanese language – can be fun for anyone new to living in Japan. Let’s explore their surprising origins and 30 of our favourites.

“I used to have two Japanese teachers who would have entire conversations in English loanwords using Japanese grammar, it was a really funny thing to see!” – Brian, Consultant at Interac

If you’re an ALT in Japan, why not use our list below as a unique quiz for your students?

What are Japanese loanwords?

There are many English words commonly used in Japanese that are (correctly or incorrectly) translated into katakana and pronounced with a Japanese accent. These are known as ‘gairaigo’ or ‘borrowed words’ and can be a nice way to break the ice with Japanese-speaking colleagues.

But did you know that some Japanese loanwords aren’t from English? Japan’s interactions through history with Portugal, Germany, and France have seen some interesting additions!

15 surprising loanwords that aren’t from English

If you’re an ALT, try quizzing your fellow teachers or your students on these loanwords. You might be surprised how many think they come from English, as most loanwords do!

At Interac, our teachers are from all over the world – 74 different countries and 6 continents.

Learning these words is a great way to surprise your coworkers and show off your cultural knowledge. Plus, they’re a fun way to highlight just how international the Japanese language is.

15 interesting loanwords borrowed from English

Many loanwords in Japan are borrowed from English, as Japan became increasingly more connected to the rest of the English-speaking world and influenced by Western culture.

If you want to get more context, our history of Japan blog post is a good place to start.

Here are some of our favourite words adapted from English that appear in everyday conversations in Japan. As you can see, their pronunciation and meanings have changed.

Which of these words are your favourites? Do you find any of them funny or surprising? Why not use some of them as an ice-breaker with some of your English or Japanese colleagues.

Of course, English has adopted many Japanese words too, such as origami, sushi, and karaoke.

Loanwords as cultural exchange

Loanwords aren’t just about vocabulary; they’re a snapshot into how Japan interacts with other cultures. Interac’s ALTs aim to help Japanese children understand the world at a global scale.

We believe in building connections across countries, and even something as small as a shared laugh over a loanword can bring teachers and students closer together. You can use loanwords as a way to show students how languages constantly change and borrow from each other.

If you’re interested in teaching English in Japan, have a look at our latest ALT job roles.