How do you say "alpaca" in Japanese?

アルパカ

arupaka

Noun Katakana

In Japanese, "alpaca" is アルパカ (arupaka).

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Pronunciation

アルパカ is written using katakana. Romanised as arupaka, it sounds roughly like "ah-roo-pah-kah" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Arupaka is a katakana loanword directly adapted from the English animal name. This reflects that alpacas are non-native to Japan.

Example sentence

アルパカは昼間よく眠ります。

Arupaka wa hiruma yoku nemurimasu.

A alpaca often sleeps during the day.

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How to remember アルパカ

Alpaca - arupaka. The katakana ア starts sharp like alpaca's spiky ears. They're fluffy exotic animals from far away.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more farm words.

Questions about アルパカ

How do you pronounce アルパカ?

アルパカ is romanised as arupaka. Say it roughly like "ah-roo-pah-kah" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is アルパカ formal or casual?

アルパカ is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is アルパカ written in Japanese?

アルパカ is written using katakana. Arupaka is a katakana loanword directly adapted from the English animal name.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Alpaca" in other languages

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