How do you say "fox" in Japanese?

In Japanese, "fox" is キツネ (kitsune). It is a noun pronounced "kee-tsoo-neh".

Listen to the pronunciation:

Illustration of fox from Noun Town

Pronunciation

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

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.

Usage notes

Kitsune (キツネ) is the Japanese word for fox. Animal vocabulary is engaging for learners and appears frequently in games, zoos, farms, and nature programs.

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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. Katakana is typically used for words of foreign origin or to give emphasis.

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.