How do you say "whale" in Japanese?

クジラ

kujira

Noun Katakana

In Japanese, "whale" is クジラ (kujira).

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Pronunciation

クジラ is written using katakana. Romanised as kujira, it sounds roughly like "koo-jee-rah" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Kujira is katakana for whale, a symbol of the ocean and often featured in folklore. Large cetaceans hold cultural importance.

Example sentence

動物園でクジラを見ました。

Doubutsuen de Kujira wo mimashita.

I saw a whale at the zoo.

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How to remember クジラ

Kujira sounds like it could mean big creature. This massive animal needs a powerful word.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more beach words.

Questions about クジラ

How do you pronounce クジラ?

クジラ is romanised as kujira. Say it roughly like "koo-jee-rah" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is クジラ formal or casual?

クジラ 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 クジラ written in Japanese?

クジラ is written using katakana. Kujira is katakana for whale, a symbol of the ocean and often featured in folklore.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Whale" in other languages

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