How do you say "turtle" in Japanese?

カメ

kame

Noun Katakana

In Japanese, "turtle" is カメ (kame).

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Pronunciation

カメ is written using katakana. Romanised as kame, it sounds roughly like "kah-meh" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Kame in katakana is simple and common. Turtles are beloved in Japanese culture, from folklore to art.

Example sentence

カメが草原を走っています。

Kame ga sogen wo hashitte imasu.

A turtle is running across the field.

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How to remember カメ

Kame sounds slow and steady. Imagine a turtle slowly saying 'kah-meh' as it walks.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

Questions about カメ

How do you pronounce カメ?

カメ is romanised as kame. Say it roughly like "kah-meh" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is カメ formal or casual?

カメ 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 カメ written in Japanese?

カメ is written using katakana. Kame in katakana is simple and common.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Turtle" in other languages

Curated by Jack Ratcliffe

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