How do you say "fox" in Japanese?

キツネ

kitsune

Noun Katakana

In Japanese, "fox" is キツネ (kitsune).

Listen to the pronunciation:

Free Japanese learning game. No sign-up, play in browser. See all games

Pronunciation

キツネ is written using katakana. Romanised as kitsune, it sounds roughly like "kee-tsoo-neh" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Kitsune in katakana is a creature deeply rooted in Japanese folklore and culture. Despite being native, the katakana reflects its mythological importance.

Example sentence

キツネが草原を走っています。

Kitsune ga sogen wo hashitte imasu.

A fox is running across the field.

Test your Japanese knowledge in our free browser games.

How to remember キツネ

Kitsune is famous in Japanese stories as a trickster spirit. The kanji for fox shows the animal radical with a distinct shape.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more farm words.

Questions about キツネ

How do you pronounce キツネ?

キツネ is romanised as kitsune. Say it roughly like "kee-tsoo-neh" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is キツネ formal or casual?

キツネ 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 キツネ written in Japanese?

キツネ is written using katakana. Kitsune in katakana is a creature deeply rooted in Japanese folklore and culture.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

You can play free Japanese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, with no sign-up needed. Every word in the Japanese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"Fox" in other languages

Curated by Callan Ratcliffe

This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Japanese language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation.

Noun Town language-learning game on PC, Mac and VR

The full experience

Noun Town on PC, Mac & VR

These browser games are just a taste. The full Noun Town is a bigger, deeper 3D world: explore a living town, talk to its characters and learn thousands of words in immersive VR, Mixed Reality, or on your computer. It's an award-winning game with 590+ reviews on Steam and 12 languages to learn.

See the full game ▶

Spot an error? Email us at contact@noun.town