How do you say "sports" in Japanese?

スポーツ

supōtsu

Noun Katakana

In Japanese, "sports" is スポーツ (supōtsu).

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Pronunciation

スポーツ is written using katakana. Romanised as supōtsu, it sounds roughly like "soo-poh-tsoo" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Supōtsu is katakana from English sports, a single borrowed term for the entire concept. It marks modern athletic activities distinct from traditional martial arts.

Example sentence

あのスポーツはとても大きいです。

Ano Supōtsu wa totemo ookii desu.

That sports is very large.

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How to remember スポーツ

Supōtsu sounds like sports with a drawn-out 'o' and long 'u'. Picture an athlete in motion or a scoreboard.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese nouns.

Questions about スポーツ

How do you pronounce スポーツ?

スポーツ is romanised as supōtsu. Say it roughly like "soo-poh-tsoo" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is スポーツ formal or casual?

スポーツ 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 スポーツ written in Japanese?

スポーツ is written using katakana. Supōtsu is katakana from English sports, a single borrowed term for the entire concept.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Sports" in other languages

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