How to Say "Lavender" in Japanese

ラベンダー

rabendā[ɾa̠bẽ̞nda̠ː]

The Japanese word for the plant lavender is ラベンダー (rabendā).

ラベンダー is used when referring specifically to the lavender plant itself.

Meaning: plant (noun)

Which one should you use?

This traditional Japanese color name is often used to describe the specific shade of lavender flowers.

rabendā

While ラベンダー refers to the plant, the traditional Japanese word for purple is 紫 (murasaki), which historically represented the highest rank of nobility.
Japanese beauty products often use ラベンダー as a keyword to signal 'relaxation' and 'sleep' rather than just a floral scent.
In Japan, the city of Furano in Hokkaido is so famous for its ラベンダー fields that the plant has become a symbol of the region's summer tourism.

ラベンダーは香りがとても良いです。
Lavender smells absolutely delightful.
ラベンダーの香りはとても癒やされます。
Rabendā no kaori wa totemo iyasaremasu.
The scent of lavender is very soothing.
庭にラベンダーを植えました。
Niwa ni rabendā o uemashita.
I planted lavender in the garden.
あのラベンダーは紫色がとても綺麗ですね。
Ano rabendā wa murasaki iro ga totemo kirei desu ne.
That lavender is a very beautiful purple.

Two friends are walking through a botanical garden.

結衣 Yui

見て、あそこにラベンダーが咲いているよ。
Mite, asoko ni rabendā ga saite iru yo.
Look, the lavender is blooming over there.
蓮 Ren

本当だ。綺麗な色をしたラベンダーだね。
Hontō da. Kirei na iro o shita rabendā da ne.
You're right. It's a lavender with a beautiful color.
結衣 Yui

蓮くん、いい香りがすると思わない？
Ren-kun, ii kaori ga suru to omowanai?
Ren, don't you think it smells good?
蓮 Ren

うん、すごくリラックスできる香りだね。
Un, sugoku rirakkusu dekiru kaori da ne.
Yeah, it's a very relaxing scent.

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