How do you say "woodpecker" in Japanese?

キツツキ

kitsutsuki

Noun Katakana

In Japanese, "woodpecker" is キツツキ (kitsutsuki).

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Pronunciation

Ki-tsu-tsu-ki, four quick tapping syllables, the double 'tsu' giving it a rhythm like little pecks.

Writing and usage

キツツキ is written using katakana. It's a noun, and this word is also taught inside the Noun Town language learning game, where it appears in interactive lessons alongside hundreds of other everyday words.

Example sentence

キツツキは木を大きく叩いた。

kitsutsuki ha ki wo ookiku tatai ta.

The woodpecker tapped loudly on the tree.

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How to remember キツツキ

Say it fast and the repeated tsu-tsu sounds like the actual tap-tap-tap of a woodpecker's beak.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

Questions about キツツキ

How do you pronounce キツツキ?

Ki-tsu-tsu-ki, four quick tapping syllables, the double 'tsu' giving it a rhythm like little pecks.

Is キツツキ formal or casual?

キツツキ 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 キツツキ written in Japanese?

キツツキ is written using katakana. Romanised, it reads as kitsutsuki.

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.

"Woodpecker" in other languages

Curated by Jack Ratcliffe

This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Japanese language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation. Want to play the full game? Get Noun Town on Steam.

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