イングリッシュ
ingurisshukatakana, loanword
In katakana, "English" is イングリッシュ (ingurisshu), borrowed from the English word. For the language itself, Japanese normally uses the kanji word 英語 (eigo).
Meaning: the English language (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| イングリッシュ | ingurisshu | katakana, loanword |
| 英語 | eigo | kanji, the language, standard |
英語 (eigo) is what people say for English as a language or school subject. イングリッシュ (ingurisshu) appears in names, such as language schools, menus and product names, for example イングリッシュ・ブレックファスト (ingurisshu burekkufasuto), "English breakfast".
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "I speak English", people say 英語を話します (eigo o hanashimasu).
Did you know?
- Katakana is the script Japanese uses for most words borrowed from other languages, which is why many shop signs look "foreign" even when the item is local.
Examples in context
- 英語を勉強しています。Eigo o benkyou shiteimasu.I am studying English.
- 英語が話せますか。Eigo ga hanasemasu ka.Can you speak English?
- イングリッシュティーをください。Ingurisshu tii o kudasai.English tea, please.
Example conversation
Tourist Mark asks the shop clerk Aya for help in Tokyo.
- Markすみません、英語が話せますか。Sumimasen, eigo ga hanasemasu ka.Excuse me, can you speak English?
- Aya少しだけ話せます。Sukoshi dake hanasemasu.I can speak a little.
- Markありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
