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Japanese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "tuna" in Japanese?
マグロ
maguro
In Japanese, "tuna" is マグロ (maguro).
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Pronunciation
マグロ is written using katakana. Romanised as maguro, it sounds roughly like "mah-goo-roh" to an English ear.
Writing and usage
Maguro in katakana is a premium seafood term. This fish is central to Japanese cuisine and appears on most sushi menus.
Example sentence
子供たちはマグロを見て喜んでいます。
Kodomotachi wa Maguro wo mite yorokondeimasu.
The children are delighted to see the tuna.
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How to remember マグロ
Ma-guro: Big and strong. Maguro is a large, powerful fish.
Related words
- sea otter ラッコ rakko
- jellyfish クラゲ kurage
- whale クジラ kujira
- manatee マナティー manatī
- orca シャチ shachi
- sea lion アシカ ashika
- seashell 貝殻 kaigara
- umbrella 傘 kasa
- mosquito 蚊 ka
Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.
Questions about マグロ
How do you pronounce マグロ?
マグロ is romanised as maguro. Say it roughly like "mah-goo-roh" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.
Is マグロ formal or casual?
マグロ 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 マグロ written in Japanese?
マグロ is written using katakana. Maguro in katakana is a premium seafood term.
Where can I practice Japanese words for free?
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"Tuna" in other languages
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