カンガルー
kangarū[kã̠ŋɡa̠ɾɯ̟ː]
The Japanese word for kangaroo is カンガルー (kangarū).
カンガルー is a noun used to refer to the marsupial. The word is a loanword from English, written in Katakana, the script used for foreign names and objects.
Meaning: marsupial (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
kangarū
Did you know?
- The word カンガルー traces its lineage back to the Guugu Yimidhirr word 'gangurru' from Australia, making it a linguistic traveler that passed through English before reaching Japan.
- In Japan, the カンガルー is often used as a symbol for the 'kangaroo pouch' style of baby carriers, focusing on the animal's parenting method rather than the animal itself.
- In Japanese pop culture, the カンガルー is frequently associated with 'Boxing' due to the animal's fighting style, appearing in various mascot characters.
Examples in context
- カンガルーを見たことはありますか？Have you ever seen a kangaroo?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has ever seen a カンガルー.Tatoeba #177296 by KK_kaku_, translation #16145 by deniko
- ダチョウはカンガルーと同様空を飛べない。An ostrich cannot fly any more than a kangaroo can.This sentence compares the inability to fly between an ostrich and a カンガルー.Tatoeba #203603 by arnab, translation #40841 by AlanF_US
- カンガルーはオーストリアの象徴なんでしょ？The kangaroo is a symbol of Austria, isn't it?This sentence mentions a カンガルー as a symbol of a country.Tatoeba #11643241 by small_snow, translation #7465828 by deniko
- あの美しい動物はカンガルーです。That beautiful animal is a kangaroo.
- 彼のお気に入りの動物はカンガルーだよ。His favorite animal is a kangaroo, you know.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hina and Ren are looking at animals at the zoo.
- 陽葵 Himariあ、見て！カンガルーが跳ねてるよ。A, mite! Kangarū ga haneteru yo.Oh, look! A kangaroo is jumping.
- 蓮 Ren本当だ。すごく速いね。Hontō da. Sugoku hayai ne.You're right. It's really fast.
- 陽葵 Himariお腹のポケットに赤ちゃんがいるのかな？Onaka no poketto ni akachan ga iru no kana?I wonder if there is a baby in its belly pocket?
- 蓮 Renきっとそうだと思うよ。Kitto sō da to omou yo.I bet that's the case.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kangaroo” translations and entries カンガルー, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries カンガルー, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
