How to Say "Cloud" in Japanese

雲

kumo[kɯ̟mo̞]

The English word "cloud" is translated into Japanese as 雲 (kumo).

雲 is used to refer to a visible mass of water droplets suspended in the air.

Meaning: visible mass of water droplets suspended in the air (noun)

How do you pronounce it?

kumo

In Japanese, the word kumo for 'cloud' is a homophone for the word 蜘蛛, which means 'spider'.
In Japanese culture, the phrase 雲上の存在 describes someone who is 'above the clouds', meaning they are of such high social status that they are unattainable.
In traditional Japanese art, 'cloud' patterns known as kumo-mon are often used to create a sense of mystery or to mark a transition between different scenes in a painting.

雲って、何色？
What colour is the cloud?
This sentence is useful for asking about the color of the 雲.
Tatoeba #11495428 by small_snow, translation #3352452 by mrtaistoi
空には雲一つ無い。
There isn't a single cloud in the sky.
This sentence is useful for stating that there is not a single 雲 in the sky.
Tatoeba #179463 by small_snow, translation #18321 by LittleBoy
昨日より雲が多いな。
There's more cloud today than yesterday.
This sentence is useful for noting that there is more 雲 today than there was yesterday.
Tatoeba #169934 by bunbuku, translation #242853 by BE
今日は空に大きな雲が広がっています。
Today, large clouds are spreading across the sky.
科学の視点から雲について説明します。
I will explain about clouds from a scientific perspective.
今日は、空にすごい雲があるよ！
There are amazing clouds in the sky today!
もうすぐ夏雲の季節がやってくるね。
The season for summer clouds will be here soon.
27 more sentences on Tatoeba

Yui and Kenta are looking at the sky during a walk.

結衣 Yui

あの大きな雲、綿菓子みたいだね。
Ano ookina kumo, watagashi mitai dane.
That big cloud looks like cotton candy, doesn't it?
健太 Kenta

本当だ。すごくふわふわしてそう。
Hontou da. Sugoku fuwafuwa shitesou.
You're right. It looks so fluffy.
結衣 Yui

健太君、あっちにも雲があるよ。
Kenta-kun, acchi ni mo kumo ga aru yo.
Kenta, there are clouds over there too.
健太 Kenta

本当だね。今日は雲がたくさんあるなあ。
Hontou dane. Kyou wa kumo ga takusan aru naa.
True. There are a lot of clouds today.

Sources

Wiktionary, “cloud” translations and entries 雲, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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