ナニー
nanī
In Japanese, the English phrase "nanny" can be expressed as ナニー (nanī) or 乳母.
Meaning: child's nurse (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ナニー | nanī | |
| 乳母 | uba | [ɯ̟ba̠] (narrow) [õ̞mba̠] (narrow) |
The term is used to describe a person who acts as a child's nurse.
What does it mean word for word?
The traditional term 乳母 is composed of kanji that literally mean 'milk' (乳) and 'mother' (母).
Which one should you use?
ナニー is a loanword from English and is typically used in modern contexts, such as referring to professional childcare services or Western-style domestic help. In contrast, 乳母 is a traditional term that specifically refers to a wet nurse or a woman who raises a child, often used in historical or literary contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term ばあや is used for a nanny-like figure, often found in rural areas or specific dialects.
How do you pronounce it?
nanī
Did you know?
- The pronunciation of 乳母 shifted from 'ōba' to 'uba' around the 11th century to prevent confusion with the word for 'aunt'.
Examples in context
- ベビーシッターを探しているI'm looking for a nanny.
- ばあやが遊んでくれるThe nanny will play with us.
Example conversation
Ren and Yui are discussing childcare options at home.
- 蓮 Ren結衣、ナニーを探し始めた？Yui, nanī o sagashihajimeta?Yui, have you started looking for a nanny?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、いい人が見つかりました。Hai, ii hito ga mitsukarimashita.Yes, I found a good person.
- 蓮 Renそのナニーはいつから来られますか？Sono nanī wa itsu kara koraremasu ka?When can that nanny start coming?
- 結衣 Yui来週の月曜日から来てもらいます。Raishū no getsuyōbi kara kite moraimasu.They will start coming from next Monday.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nanny” translations and entries 乳母, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 乳母, CC BY-SA 4.0.
