How to Say "Metre" in Japanese

メートル

mētoru[me̞ːto̞ɾɯ̟]

The English phrase 'metre' translates to Japanese as メートル (mētoru).

メートル is a noun used as a unit of length. In academic or scientific contexts, the abbreviated form m (メートル) is used.

Meaning: unit of length (noun)

How do you pronounce it?

mētoru

In casual Japanese handwriting, you might see the symbol ㍍ used in place of メートル to save space, especially in newspapers or advertisements.
Before the adoption of the metric system, Japan used the 尺 'shaku', which was roughly 30.3 centimetres. This traditional unit is still used today in some traditional architecture and kimono tailoring.
While メートル refers to the unit of length, the word メーター (mētā) is used for a 'meter' that measures something, such as a water meter or a speedometer.

1メートル、25ユーロです。
It costs €25 a metre.
This sentence shows how to express a price per metre using メートル.
Tatoeba #11554926 by small_snow, translation #11554829 by sundown
１メートルは１００センチである。
A metre is 100 centimetres.
This sentence provides a definition of a metre in centimetres using メートル.
Tatoeba #235822 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #73201 by sundown
１００メートル、１０秒切れる？
Will they break the ten-second mark in the hundred-metre race?
This sentence uses メートル in the context of a hundred-metre race.
Tatoeba #236110 by mookeee, translation #378298 by Objectivesea
長さは20メートルです。
The length is 20 metres.
3 more sentences on Tatoeba

Kenta and Misaki are measuring a curtain in their living room.

健太 Kenta

このカーテン、何メートルくらいかな？
Kono kāten, nan mētoru kurai kana?
How many metres is this curtain, I wonder?
美咲 Misaki

たぶん、２メートルはあると思うよ。
Tabun, ni mētoru wa aru to omou yo.
I think it's probably at least 2 metres.
健太 Kenta

じゃあ、メジャーで測ってみよう。
Jaa, mejā de hakatte miyou.
Then, let's try measuring it with the tape measure.
美咲 Misaki

そうだね、やってみよう。
Sou dane, yattemiyou.
Right, let's do it.

Sources

Wiktionary, “metre” translations and entries メートル, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries メートル, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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