みんな
minna[mʲĩnːa̠]
The English phrase "hey guys" can be translated into Japanese using みんな (minna).
In Japanese, the word みんな often functions as the greeting itself when addressing a group, whereas English speakers often add a separate word like "hey." You can also use it in combinations such as みんな、こんにちは to mean "Hi, everyone" when greeting friends or a group informally or みんな、元気？ as a casual way to say "Hi everyone, how are you?" For a more colloquial "Hey, everyone!" or "Yo, guys!" you can use おい、みんな！
What does it mean word for word?
みんな means "everyone" or "everybody."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For example, the phrase みなさん、こんにちは translates to "Hello, everyone" and is used to greet a larger group of people formally.
How does it change in a sentence?
みんな is used as a noun or a pronoun and does not change its form based on the number of people being addressed.
How do you pronounce it?
minna
Did you know?
- Using the formal version みなさん (minasan) to greet a group of close friends can actually be a way of teasing them or creating a jokingly stiff atmosphere.
- The word みんな can also be used to mean 'all of something' in a non-human sense, such as saying 'all the pieces' of a puzzle.
- Even though みんな can mean 'everyone', it is often used to address a very small, intimate circle of friends, such as a close-knit group of three people.
Examples in context
- 「みんなひと休みしようぜ」とジョンは言った。John said, "Hey guys, let's take a break."This sentence is useful for seeing how to use みんな in a casual suggestion.Tatoeba #236431 by mookeee, translation #73797 by CN
- みんな、準備はいい？minna, junbi wa ii?Hey guys, are you ready?
- みんな、こっちに集まって！minna, kocchi ni atsumatte!Hey guys, gather over here!
Example conversation
Two friends meeting a group of peers at a cafe.
- 蓮 Renみんな、お待たせ！Minna, omatase!Hey guys, sorry to keep you waiting!
- 美咲 Misakiいいよ、今来たところだから。Ii yo, ima kita tokoro dakara.It's okay, we just got here.
- 蓮 Ren今日は何を食べる？Kyou wa nani o taberu?What are we eating today?
- 美咲 Misakiパスタにしようよ。Pasuta ni shiyou yo.Let's have pasta.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry みんな, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
