How do you say "bread" in Japanese?

パン

pan

Noun Katakana

In Japanese, "bread" is パン (pan).

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Pronunciation

パン is written using katakana. Romanised as pan, it sounds roughly like "pah-n" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Pan is katakana from Portuguese via Dutch traders. Bread is now a staple in Japanese breakfasts.

Example sentence

パンを一つください。

Pan wo hitotsu kudasai.

One bread, please.

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How to remember パン

Pan means bread, and pan also means bread in Spanish and Portuguese. Historical trade word.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more cafe words.

Questions about パン

How do you pronounce パン?

パン is romanised as pan. Say it roughly like "pah-n" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is パン formal or casual?

パン 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 パン written in Japanese?

パン is written using katakana. Pan is katakana from Portuguese via Dutch traders.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Bread" in other languages

Curated by Callan Ratcliffe

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