How do you say "tiger" in Japanese?

トラ

tora

Noun Katakana

In Japanese, "tiger" is トラ (tora).

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Pronunciation

トラ is written using katakana. Romanised as tora, it sounds roughly like "toh-rah" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Tora is katakana for tiger. This predator features prominently in Japanese art and literature, though it is also historically known through Asian tigers rather than native populations.

Example sentence

あのトラはとても可愛いです。

Ano Tora wa totemo kawaii desu.

That tiger is very cute.

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How to remember トラ

Katakana 'tora' names the powerful Asian striped predator.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more zoo words.

Questions about トラ

How do you pronounce トラ?

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

Is トラ formal or casual?

トラ 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 トラ written in Japanese?

トラ is written using katakana. Tora is katakana for tiger.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Tiger" in other languages

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