バービー
Bābī
The Japanese word for "barbie" is バービー (Bābī).
バービー refers to the Barbie doll.
Meaning: doll (noun)
Which one should you use?
Use バービーちゃん for an informal and affectionate tone, or バービーさん to include a degree of politeness.
How do you pronounce it?
Bābī
Did you know?
- Japanese culture has a deep history of ningyō used in festivals, such as the Hina-matsuri doll festival, long before バービー arrived from America.
- While バービー is a loanword, the general word for doll is 人形 ningyō, which literally means 'human shape'.
- While English speakers often use 'Barbie' as a generic term for any doll, Japanese speakers almost exclusively use バービー to refer specifically to the Mattel brand.
Examples in context
- 今日はバービーの新作が発売されたんだって！Today, I heard a new Barbie was released!
- 私も集めているんだよ！I collect them too!
- バービーちゃんは可愛いね！Barbie is so cute, right!
- うん、ちょっと欲しいかも！Yeah, I might want one!
- このバービーはとてもかわいいです。Kono bābiī wa totemo kawaii desu.This Barbie is very cute.
- 彼女はバービーの人形が好きです。Kanojo wa bābiī no ningyō ga suki desu.She likes Barbie dolls.
- 新しいバービーを買いました。Atarashii bābiī o kaimashita.I bought a new Barbie.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a toy store display.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵、このバービーは可愛いね。Himari, kono Bābī wa kawaii ne.Himari, this Barbie is cute.
- 陽葵 Himari本当だね！ドレスがとても綺麗。Hontō da ne! Doresu ga totemo kirei.You're right! The dress is very beautiful.
- 大翔 Hiroto誕生日プレゼントにどうかな？Tanjōbi purezento ni dō kana?I wonder if it would be a good birthday present?
- 陽葵 Himariきっと喜ぶと思うよ。Kitto yorokobu to omou yo.I think they would definitely be happy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “barbie” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
