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Japanese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "reindeer" in Japanese?
トナカイ
tonakai
In Japanese, "reindeer" is トナカイ (tonakai).
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Pronunciation
トナカイ is written using katakana. Romanised as tonakai, it sounds roughly like "toh-nah-kah-ee" to an English ear.
Writing and usage
Tonakai is a katakana loanword for reindeer. Japanese adopted this term for the northern deer rather than creating a new compound with native elements.
Example sentence
トナカイは昼間よく眠ります。
Tonakai wa hiruma yoku nemurimasu.
A reindeer often sleeps during the day.
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How to remember トナカイ
Katakana signals this is a loanword for a northern animal unfamiliar to traditional Japan.
Related words
Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.
Questions about トナカイ
How do you pronounce トナカイ?
トナカイ is romanised as tonakai. Say it roughly like "toh-nah-kah-ee" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.
Is トナカイ formal or casual?
トナカイ 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 トナカイ written in Japanese?
トナカイ is written using katakana. Tonakai is a katakana loanword for reindeer.
Where can I practice Japanese words for free?
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"Reindeer" in other languages
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