How do you say "towel" in Japanese?

タオル

taoru

Noun Katakana

In Japanese, "towel" is タオル (taoru).

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Pronunciation

タオル is written using katakana. Romanised as taoru, it sounds roughly like "tah-oh-roo" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Taoru is katakana adapted from 'towel'. This everyday item appears in bathrooms and beaches.

Example sentence

机の上にタオルがあります。

Tsukue no ue ni Taoru ga arimasu.

There is a towel on the desk.

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How to remember タオル

Towel pronounced with a Japanese lilt: ta-o-ru.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more beach words.

Questions about タオル

How do you pronounce タオル?

タオル is romanised as taoru. Say it roughly like "tah-oh-roo" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is タオル formal or casual?

タオル 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 タオル written in Japanese?

タオル is written using katakana. Taoru is katakana adapted from 'towel'.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

You can play free Japanese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, with no sign-up needed. Every word in the Japanese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"Towel" in other languages

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