Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| メール | mēru | [me̞ːɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 電子メール | denshi mēru | [dẽ̞ɰ̃ɕi me̞ːɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
The term refers to a message sent through email. You can also use the word メッセージ to refer broadly to digital messages, including emails, in informal settings.
What does it mean word for word?
The formal term 電子メール is a literal combination of the word for 'electronic' (電子) and 'mail' (メール).
Which one should you use?
While 電子メール is the full technical term for 'electronic mail', the shortened version メール is much more common in daily conversation. You may also see Eメール, which is another way to write the English-derived term.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
You can turn the noun メール into a transitive verb meaning 'to email' by adding the verb する to it, resulting in メールする. To say 'email address', you append the katakana word for address (アドレス) to the end of the word, forming メールアドレス.
How do you pronounce it?
mēru
Did you know?
- If you use the full technical term 電子メール during a casual conversation with friends, you might come across as sounding like a technical manual or a robot.
- While メール can mean 'mail' in English, in Japanese it almost exclusively refers to electronic messages, whereas physical letters are called 手紙 (tegami).
- Because メール is written in katakana, it serves as a constant visual cue to the reader that the word is a borrowed concept from a foreign language.
Examples in context
- メールするね。I'll email you.This sentence uses メール to express the intention to email someone.Tatoeba #11624070 by small_snow, translation #11633745 by CK
- 私のメールアドレスです。This is my email address.This sentence uses メール to provide an email address.Tatoeba #164102 by bunbuku, translation #948281 by CK
- もうメールって、送った？Have you sent the email yet?This sentence uses メール to ask if an email has been sent.Tatoeba #10175924 by small_snow, translation #9524331 by DJ_Saidez
- 私は電子メールでお知らせします。I will inform you via email.
- メッセージを送ったよ！I sent you an email/message!
- 79 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto are talking about a message they received.
- 結衣 Yuiさっきのメール、見た？Sakki no mēru, mita?Did you see the email from a moment ago?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、今ちょうど読んだよ。Un, ima chōdo yonda yo.Yeah, I just read it now.
- 結衣 Yui返信のメール、送っておいてね。Henshin no mēru, okutte oite ne.Please send a reply email.
- 大翔 Hirotoわかった、やっておくよ。Wakatta, yatte oku yo.Got it, I'll do that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “email” translations and entries メール, 電子メール, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
