How do you say "pigeon" in Japanese?

ハト

hato

Noun Katakana

In Japanese, "pigeon" is ハト (hato).

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Pronunciation

ハト is written using katakana. Romanised as hato, it sounds roughly like "hah-toh" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Hato in katakana names a common urban and rural bird. Birds are frequently written in katakana in modern Japanese even when native.

Example sentence

あのハトはとても可愛いです。

Ano Hato wa totemo kawaii desu.

That pigeon is very cute.

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How to remember ハト

Hato coos - 'hoo-hoo'. The katakana ト looks like a small bird perched. Pigeons are peaceful symbols of peace in Japan.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more farm words.

Questions about ハト

How do you pronounce ハト?

ハト is romanised as hato. Say it roughly like "hah-toh" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is ハト formal or casual?

ハト 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 ハト written in Japanese?

ハト is written using katakana. Hato in katakana names a common urban and rural bird.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Pigeon" in other languages

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