英単語
eitango
The Japanese phrase for "english words" is 英単語 (eitango).
英単語 refers to individual words that belong to the English language. One might also use the more descriptive phrase 英語の単語 to mean "words of the English language".
What does it mean word for word?
The term is a compound of 英 (ei) meaning 'English' and 単語 (tango) meaning 'word'.
Which one should you use?
英語の単語 is a more descriptive way of saying "words of the English language".
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun 英単語 is used for both singular and plural English words, as Japanese nouns do not typically change for number.
How do you pronounce it?
eitango
Did you know?
- Japanese has a category of words called 和製英語 (wasei eigo), which are 'English words' created in Japan that often have meanings different from how they are used in English-speaking countries.
- The character 英 used in 英単語 originally means 'flower' or 'petal', but in this context it is an abbreviation for 英国 meaning 'United Kingdom'.
- English words are often written in a special script called カタカナ to signal that they are borrowed from another language.
Examples in context
- 英単語って、幾つ習った？How many English words did you learn?This sentence is useful for asking how many 英単語 someone learned.Tatoeba #10054297 by small_snow, translation #10208549 by terrywallwork
- 英単語って、幾つ覚えてる？How many English words do you know?This sentence is useful for asking how many 英単語 someone knows.Tatoeba #10054292 by small_snow, translation #26313 by CK
- 多くの英単語はラテン語に由来する。Many English words are derived from Latin.This sentence is useful for stating that many 英単語 are derived from Latin.Tatoeba #138441 by KK_kaku_, translation #26344 by kebukebu
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two students are talking about their English homework.
- 陽葵 Himariこの英単語はどうやって読むの？Kono eitango wa douyatte yomu no?How do you read this English word?
- 大翔 Hirotoそれは「challenge」と読むよ。Sore wa 'challenge' to yomu yo.That one is read as 'challenge'.
- 陽葵 Himari難しい英単語が多くて大変だね。Muzukashii eitango ga ookute taihen da ne.It's tough because there are so many difficult English words.
- 大翔 Hiroto一緒に頑張ろうよ。Issho ni ganbarou yo.Let's do our best together.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
