How do you say "octopus" in Japanese?

タコ

tako

Noun Katakana

In Japanese, "octopus" is タコ (tako).

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Pronunciation

タコ is written using katakana. Romanised as tako, it sounds roughly like "tah-koh" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Tako in katakana is shared with the word for 'kite', but context keeps them distinct. Seafood context always means the eight-armed creature.

Example sentence

動物園でタコを見ました。

Doubutsuen de Tako wo mimashita.

I saw a octopus at the zoo.

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How to remember タコ

Tako has eight letters ending in 'o'. Eight arms, eight... think octopus when you hear it on the beach.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more beach words.

Questions about タコ

How do you pronounce タコ?

タコ is romanised as tako. Say it roughly like "tah-koh" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is タコ formal or casual?

タコ 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 タコ written in Japanese?

タコ is written using katakana. Tako in katakana is shared with the word for 'kite', but context keeps them distinct.

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.

"Octopus" in other languages

Curated by Callan Ratcliffe

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