みんな
minna[mʲĩnːa̠]
In Japanese, 'guys' is translated as みんな (minna).
みんな is a casual way to address a group of people. Unlike the English 'guys', the Japanese term みんな is gender-neutral and can be used for any group regardless of gender.
Which one should you use?
Minasan (皆さん) is a polite and formal way to address a group of people, translating to 'everyone' or 'ladies and gentlemen'.
How do you pronounce it?
minna
Did you know?
- Japanese has a concept called 'uchi-soto', and using みんな helps define the 'uchi' (inside) group, effectively drawing a social boundary between the people being addressed and those outside the circle.
- The term みんな actually evolved from the older form みな, which became more popular by doubling the 'n' sound to create a geminate consonant.
- In Japanese, the word みんな is often used as a 'filler' or a call for attention to signal that a speaker is about to make an announcement to the group, even if they are not directly addressing anyone specifically.
Examples in context
- やあ、みんな！Hi, guys.This sentence shows how to use みんな in a casual greeting.Tatoeba #10625672 by small_snow, translation #2561375 by Hybrid
- みんな、大丈夫？Are you guys OK?This sentence demonstrates asking a group if they are okay using みんな.Tatoeba #3384689 by bunbuku, translation #3355618 by CK
- みんな、お疲れ！Good job, guys!This sentence shows how to use みんな when acknowledging a group's hard work.Tatoeba #9414585 by small_snow, translation #9414583 by DJ_Saidez
- 皆さん、会議が始まります。Everyone, the meeting is starting.
- みんな、行こう！Guys, let's go!
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota is talking to Yui and their friends at a cafe.
- 陽太 Yotaみんな、何飲む？Minna, nani nomu?Guys, what do you want to drink?
- 結衣 Yui私はアイスコーヒーにするよ。Watashi wa aisukōhī ni suru yo.I'll have an iced coffee.
- 陽太 Yotaわかった。みんな、決まったら教えて。Wakatta. Minna, kimattara oshiete.Got it. Guys, let me know when you've decided.
- 結衣 Yuiもうすぐみんな決まると思うよ。Mōsugu minna kimaru to omou yo.I think everyone will decide soon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry みんな, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries みんな, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
