ヤギ
yagi
The English word "goat" is translated into Japanese as ヤギ (yagi). Wiktionary also lists 山羊 (yagi).
Meaning: animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ヤギ | yagi | |
| 山羊 | yagi | [ja̠ɡʲi] (narrow) |
The word refers to the animal (noun).
What does it mean word for word?
The kanji form 山羊 is composed of the characters for "mountain" (山) and "sheep/goat" (羊), literally meaning "mountain goat".
Which one should you use?
ヤギ is the katakana spelling often used in scientific contexts, signage or when emphasizing the name of the animal itself.
How do you pronounce it?
yagi
Did you know?
- While the kanji 山羊 is common, the word yagi may not have been written in Japanese records until as late as 1523.
- The kanji 羊 is used for both 'sheep' and 'goat' in ancient Chinese and Japanese texts. The addition of 山 ('mountain') was a way to specifically isolate the goat from the sheep.
- Depending on the region, yagi can be used in folk expressions to describe someone who is stubborn or headstrong, mirroring the 'stubborn as a goat' trope in English.
Examples in context
- 彼らは山羊を殺し、神に捧げた。They killed a goat as a sacrifice to God.This sentence shows how to use the kanji form 山羊.Tatoeba #3474651 by arnab, translation #306097 by CM
- これは山羊のチーズなんですか？Is this goat cheese?This sentence demonstrates the use of 山羊 when discussing food products.Tatoeba #8748211 by bunbuku, translation #6459866 by Eccles17
- これは羊じゃなくて、ヤギです！This isn't a ram, it's a goat!This sentence uses the katakana form ヤギ to clarify the distinction between animals.Tatoeba #10726301 by small_snow, translation #5320038 by Adelpa
- 今日、動物園で可愛い ヤギちゃん を見た！Today, I saw an adorable goat at the zoo!
- 山羊の乳は栄養に富んでいます。Goat milk is rich in nutrients.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are visiting a small farm together.
- 結衣 Yui見て、あそこに白いヤギがいるよ！Mite, asoko ni shiroi yagi ga iru yo!Look, there is a white goat over there!
- 健太 Kenta本当だ。すごく可愛いね。Hontou da. Sugoku kawaii ne.You're right. It's really cute.
- 結衣 Yuiヤギにエサをあげてもいいのかな？Yagi ni esa o agetemo ii no kana?I wonder if we can feed the goat?
- 健太 Kenta職員の人に聞いてみよう。Shokuin no hito ni kiite miyou.Let's ask the staff member.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goat” translations and entries ヤギ, 山羊, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 山羊, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
