How do you say "languages" in Japanese?

言語

gengo

Noun Kanji

In Japanese, "languages" is 言語 (gengo).

Listen to the pronunciation:

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Pronunciation

言語 is written using kanji. Romanised as gengo, it sounds roughly like "geh-n-goh" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Gengo combines 言 (word/speech) with 語 (language). Words and language create this compound.

Example sentence

言語を使います。

Gengo wo tsukaimasu.

I use the languages.

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How to remember 言語

Word language. Speech expressed in different tongues.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

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Questions about 言語

How do you pronounce 言語?

言語 is romanised as gengo. Say it roughly like "geh-n-goh" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 言語 formal or casual?

言語 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 言語 written in Japanese?

言語 is written using kanji. Gengo combines 言 (word/speech) with 語 (language).

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.

"Languages" in other languages

Curated by Jack 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.

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