How to Say "Memes" in Japanese

ミーム

mīmu[mʲiːmɯ̟]

The Japanese word for memes is ミーム (mīmu).

ミーム refers to memes. It is a loanword from English and is written using Katakana, the Japanese writing system used primarily for foreign loanwords.

How do you pronounce it?

mīmu

Many Japanese memes rely on 擬音語 'giongo' or onomatopoeia, meaning a ミーム might be defined by a specific sound effect rather than a picture or phrase.
Because ミーム is a loanword, many Japanese internet users prefer using the term ネタ (neta) to describe the humorous content or 'stuff' that makes up a meme.
If you want to find a 'meme template' to use for your own joke, search for 素材 'sozai', which literally translates to 'raw material' or 'ingredients'.

最近インターネット・ミームにはまっているんです。
I've been obsessed with internet memes lately.
ミームが面白すぎて笑っちゃった！
The meme was so funny, I burst out laughing!
最近、ネットでミームが流行っている。
Saikin, netto de miimu ga hayatte iru.
Lately, memes are trending on the internet.
そのミームはとても面白いです。
Sono miimu wa totemo omoshiroi desu.
That meme is very funny.
海外のミームを理解するのは難しい。
Kaigai no miimu o rikai suru no wa muzukashii.
It is difficult to understand foreign memes.

Two friends are chatting about social media trends.

結衣 Yui

このミーム、見たことある？
Kono miimu, mita koto aru?
Have you seen this meme?
大翔 Hiroto

いや、初めて見たよ。
Iya, hajimete mita yo.
No, it's my first time seeing it.
結衣 Yui

大翔くんもこれ好きそうだね。
Hiroto-kun mo kore sukisou da ne.
I think you would like this too, Hiroto.
大翔 Hiroto

確かに、すごく面白いね。
Tashikani, sugoku omoshiroi ne.
True, it is very funny.

Sources

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