Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| イギリスの | Igirisu no |
| 英国の | Eikoku no |
These terms are used to mean "of British origin" or "from Britain". To refer to a British person, you can use イギリス人 or 英国人. If you want to describe something as being "British-like" or having British characteristics, you can use イギリスっぽい or to describe someone who seems British, use イギリスっぽい人.
Which one should you use?
イギリスの is the most common way to say "British" in everyday conversation. In contrast, 英国の is a more formal, written-style way to say "British" that is often used in news or academic contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
イギリスの is the colloquial and common form. 英国の is the formal version. Similarly, when referring to people, イギリス人 is the standard way to refer to a British person in conversation, while 英国人 is the formal way typically found in newspapers or official documents. Additionally, 英国 is a more formal way of referring to the United Kingdom as a country.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
Igirisu no
Did you know?
- The word イギリス is derived from the Portuguese word 'Inglez', which means 'English'. Japanese speakers adopted this version rather than the English word 'Britain'.
- In Japanese, the term 英国 (Eikoku) uses the character 英, which also means 'excellent' or 'heroic', giving the name a slightly more dignified and prestigious nuance than the colloquial イギリス.
- When talking about 'British' style or fashion, Japanese speakers frequently use the term ブリティッシュ as a direct loanword from English instead of イギリスの.
Examples in context
- ケニアはかつてイギリスの植民地であった。Kenya used to be a British colony.This sentence is useful for expressing that Kenya was once a British colony using イギリスの.Tatoeba #225245 by bunbuku, translation #62580 by CK
- イギリスの首相ネヴィル・チェンバレンは辞任に追い込まれた。British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain was forced to resign.This sentence is useful for referring to the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain using イギリスの.Tatoeba #942204 by thyc244, translation #804100 by Source_VOA
- 私はイギリスの教師です。I am a teacher from Britain.
- イギリス人の友人がいます。I have a British friend.
- これは英国の文化です。This is British culture.
- 彼女のセーターはイギリスっぽいですね。Her sweater looks British-like, doesn't it?
- ジョンさんはイギリスっぽい人ですよ。John seems like someone who is British.
- 彼はイギリス系のアーティストです。He is an artist with British ancestry.
- イギリスの紅茶はとても美味しいです。Igirisu no koucha wa totemo oishii desu.British tea is very delicious.
Example conversation
Hiroto and Yui are talking about a book.
- 大翔 Hirotoこの本はイギリスの小説です。Kono hon wa Igirisu no shōsetsu desu.This book is a British novel.
- 結衣 Yuiへえ、面白そうですね。Hee, omoshirosō desu ne.Oh, that sounds interesting.
- 大翔 Hirotoイギリスの歴史についても書かれています。Igirisu no rekishi ni tsuite mo kakarete imasu.It also talks about British history.
- 結衣 Yuiぜひ貸してください。Zehi kashite kudasai.Please lend it to me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “british” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
