いらっしゃいませ
irasshaimase[iɾa̠ɕːa̠ima̠se̞]
The Japanese phrase for "hello and welcome" is いらっしゃいませ (irasshaimase).
いらっしゃいませ is used almost exclusively by staff in service industries, such as shops and restaurants, to greet customers as they enter.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is a highly polite imperative form of the verb irassharu (to come, to be or to go), used to welcome someone's presence.
How do you pronounce it?
irasshaimase
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using いらっしゃいませ to greet friends or acquaintances. It should be reserved strictly for professional service environments.
When do people say it?
When you hear this greeting, you are not expected to respond with words. A simple nod or ignoring the greeting is socially acceptable.
Did you know?
- In some high-energy Japanese businesses, staff will shout いらっしゃいませ in a loud, rhythmic unison. This creates an atmosphere of excitement and vitality known as 'genki'.
- The verb inside the phrase, irassharu, is a 'special' honorific verb that can mean 'to go', 'to come' or 'to be'. This allows the phrase to cover every possible state of the customer's arrival.
- While いらっしゃいませ is the standard for stores, a homeowner greeting a guest would use いらっしゃい instead. Using the full phrase at home would make your house feel like a commercial business.
Examples in context
- いらっしゃいませ、何名様ですか？Irasshaimase, nanmei-sama desu ka?Hello and welcome, how many people in your party?
- いらっしゃいませ。こちらへどうぞ。Irasshaimase. Kochira e douzo.Hello and welcome. This way, please.
Example conversation
Ren enters a small restaurant and is greeted by Yui.
- 結衣 Yuiいらっしゃいませ！Irasshaimase!Hello and welcome!
- 蓮 Renこんにちは。一人です。Konnichiwa. Hitori desu.Hello. Just one person.
- 結衣 Yuiかしこまりました。こちらへどうぞ。Kashikomarimashita. Kochira e douzo.Certainly. This way, please.
- 蓮 Renありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry いらっしゃいませ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
