鰻
unagi[mɯ̟na̠ɡʲi]
The Japanese word for eel is 鰻, pronounced unagi.
鰻 refers to any fish belonging to the order Anguilliformes.
Meaning: any fish of the order Anguilliformes (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
unagi
Did you know?
- Another theory suggests unagi comes from the word for 'ridgepole', because the fish looks like the heavy beam at the peak of a roof.
- In Japan, unagi is traditionally eaten on the Midsummer Day of the Ox to combat fatigue in the humid heat.
- While unagi refers to freshwater eels, saltwater eels are called anago and are prepared and tasted differently.
Examples in context
- 鰻を食べたいです。unagi o tabetai desu.I want to eat eel.
- この鰻はとても美味しいです。kono unagi wa totemo oishii desu.This eel is very delicious.
- 鰻の蒲焼を注文しました。unagi no kabayaki o chumon shimashita.I ordered grilled eel.
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are deciding what to have for dinner.
- 結衣 Yui今日の夕食に鰻はどう？Kyou no yuushoku ni unagi wa dou?How about eel for dinner today?
- 蓮 Renいいですね。賛成です。Ii desu ne. Sansei desu.That sounds good. I agree.
- 結衣 Yuiあのお店に予約しようか。Ano omise ni yoyaku shiyou ka.Shall I make a reservation at that restaurant?
- 蓮 Renお願いします、結衣さん。Onegaishimasu, Yui-san.Please do, Yui.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eel” translations and entries 鰻, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 鰻, CC BY-SA 4.0.
