How do you say "sea horse" in Japanese?

タツノオトシゴ

tatsunootoshigo

Noun Katakana

In Japanese, "sea horse" is タツノオトシゴ (tatsunootoshigo).

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Pronunciation

タツノオトシゴ is written using katakana. Romanised as tatsunootoshigo, it sounds roughly like "tah-tsoo-noh-toh-shee-goh" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Tatsunootoshigo literally means dragon's falling offspring in mixed hiragana-katakana, a poetic traditional name reflecting its seahorse's unusual appearance and mystery.

Example sentence

あのタツノオトシゴはとても可愛いです。

Ano Tatsunootoshigo wa totemo kawaii desu.

That sea horse is very cute.

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How to remember タツノオトシゴ

Tatsu (竜) is dragon, otoshigo (落し子) is offspring. A mythical creature child, delicate and curled.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more beach words.

Questions about タツノオトシゴ

How do you pronounce タツノオトシゴ?

タツノオトシゴ is romanised as tatsunootoshigo. Say it roughly like "tah-tsoo-noh-toh-shee-goh" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is タツノオトシゴ formal or casual?

タツノオトシゴ 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 タツノオトシゴ written in Japanese?

タツノオトシゴ is written using katakana. Tatsunootoshigo literally means dragon's falling offspring in mixed hiragana-katakana, a poetic traditional name reflecting its seahorse's unusual appearance and mystery..

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Sea horse" in other languages

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