What Are Gairaigo (Foreign Loanwords)?
Gairaigo (外来語, literally "words from abroad") are foreign words that have been adopted into the Japanese language. The vast majority come from English, though Portuguese, Dutch, French, and German have also contributed significantly throughout history.
These words are almost always written in Katakana, which serves as a visual marker that immediately tells Japanese readers: "this word has foreign origins." Understanding common Katakana words is essential because they appear everywhere — on menus, product labels, signs, websites, and in everyday conversation.
As an English speaker, you already know the meaning of hundreds of Katakana words! Once you can read the Katakana script, you'll discover that many Japanese words are simply English words adapted to Japanese pronunciation rules.
Food & Drinks (食べ物と飲み物)
Food-related Katakana words are among the first you'll encounter, especially when reading restaurant menus in Japan.
| Katakana | Romaji | English | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| コーヒー | kōhī | Coffee | English |
| ビール | bīru | Beer | Dutch (bier) |
| パン | pan | Bread | Portuguese (pão) |
| ケーキ | kēki | Cake | English |
| チョコレート | chokorēto | Chocolate | English |
| サラダ | sarada | Salad | English |
| ハンバーガー | hanbāgā | Hamburger | English |
| ピザ | piza | Pizza | Italian |
| パスタ | pasuta | Pasta | Italian |
| ジュース | jūsu | Juice | English |
| ワイン | wain | Wine | English |
| サンドイッチ | sandoicchi | Sandwich | English |
| アイスクリーム | aisukurīmu | Ice cream | English |
| レストラン | resutoran | Restaurant | French |
| メニュー | menyū | Menu | French |
Technology & Electronics (テクノロジー)
Technology vocabulary in Japanese is overwhelmingly Katakana, since most tech terms entered the language from English in the modern era.
| Katakana | Romaji | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| パソコン | pasokon | Computer | Abbreviation of "personal computer" |
| スマートフォン | sumātofon | Smartphone | Often shortened to スマホ |
| インターネット | intānetto | Internet | Often shortened to ネット |
| テレビ | terebi | Television | Short for テレビジョン |
| カメラ | kamera | Camera | English |
| ソフトウェア | sofutowea | Software | English |
| データ | dēta | Data | English |
| プリンター | purintā | Printer | English |
| マウス | mausu | Mouse | Computer mouse |
| キーボード | kībōdo | Keyboard | English |
| メール | mēru | From "mail" | |
| アプリ | apuri | App | From "application" |
Fashion & Clothing (ファッション)
| Katakana | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| シャツ | shatsu | Shirt |
| スカート | sukāto | Skirt |
| ジーンズ | jīnzu | Jeans |
| コート | kōto | Coat |
| ドレス | doresu | Dress |
| ネクタイ | nekutai | Necktie |
| サングラス | sangurasu | Sunglasses |
| ブーツ | būtsu | Boots |
| アクセサリー | akusesarī | Accessories |
| デザイン | dezain | Design |
Travel & Places (旅行)
| Katakana | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ホテル | hoteru | Hotel |
| タクシー | takushī | Taxi |
| バス | basu | Bus |
| エレベーター | erebētā | Elevator |
| エスカレーター | esukarētā | Escalator |
| チケット | chiketto | Ticket |
| スーツケース | sūtsukēsu | Suitcase |
| パスポート | pasupōto | Passport |
| ツアー | tsuā | Tour |
| トイレ | toire | Toilet |
Daily Life & Home (日常生活)
| Katakana | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| テーブル | tēburu | Table |
| ベッド | beddo | Bed |
| ソファー | sofā | Sofa |
| カーテン | kāten | Curtain |
| シャワー | shawā | Shower |
| タオル | taoru | Towel |
| ペン | pen | Pen |
| ノート | nōto | Notebook |
| カレンダー | karendā | Calendar |
| エアコン | eakon | Air conditioner |
Entertainment & Sports (エンターテイメント)
| Katakana | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| サッカー | sakkā | Soccer |
| ゲーム | gēmu | Game |
| スポーツ | supōtsu | Sports |
| ギター | gitā | Guitar |
| ピアノ | piano | Piano |
| コンサート | konsāto | Concert |
| ドラマ | dorama | Drama (TV) |
| アニメ | anime | Anime/Animation |
| マンガ | manga | Manga/Comics |
| カラオケ | karaoke | Karaoke |
Business & Work (ビジネス)
| Katakana | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| オフィス | ofisu | Office |
| ビジネス | bijinesu | Business |
| プロジェクト | purojekuto | Project |
| ミーティング | mītingu | Meeting |
| スケジュール | sukejūru | Schedule |
| マネージャー | manējā | Manager |
| プレゼンテーション | purezentēshon | Presentation |
| レポート | repōto | Report |
Some Katakana words look like English but have different meanings in Japanese! For example: マンション (mansion) means "apartment/condo" not a large house. バイキング (viking) means "all-you-can-eat buffet." ナイーブ (naive) means "sensitive" in Japanese.
Interactive Flashcard Review
Click the card to reveal the English meaning. Use the "Next" button to cycle through randomized words from all categories.
📇 Katakana Flashcards
Click the card to flip. How many can you get right?
Натисніть, щоб побачити значення
Часті Запитання
What are the most common Katakana words?
The most common Katakana words include コーヒー (coffee), パソコン (computer), テレビ (TV), レストラン (restaurant), ホテル (hotel), バス (bus), and タクシー (taxi). These appear in everyday Japanese life.
Why are foreign words written in Katakana?
Katakana serves as a visual marker for words of foreign origin (gairaigo). This tells Japanese readers immediately that the word comes from another language, helping distinguish it from native Japanese words written in Hiragana or Kanji.
How many Katakana words are used in daily Japanese?
Approximately 10-15% of words in modern Japanese are Katakana loanwords. In tech-heavy, fashion, or food contexts, this percentage can be much higher — sometimes up to 30-40% of vocabulary on a menu or tech article is Katakana.
What are Wasei-Eigo (Japanese-English) words?
Wasei-Eigo are Katakana words that appear to be English but either don't exist in English or have different meanings. Examples include マンション (apartment, not mansion), フロント (reception desk), and サラリーマン (office worker).
Sources & References
- JapaneseJLPT.com — Practice Common Katakana Words
- The Japan Foundation — Survey on Japanese-Language Education Abroad, loanword frequency data
- NHK World — Japanese language learning resources and Gairaigo (外来語) documentation
- Tofugu — Japanese Loanwords: The Complete Guide, wasei-eigo reference
See These Words in Katakana
Try typing any English word in our converter to see how it looks in Katakana.
Конвертувати в Катакану →