ノンアルコール
non'arukōru
In Japanese, the phrase for "no alcohol" is ノンアルコール (non'arukōru).
ノンアルコール is a term used to describe drinks that do not contain alcohol. While it is often used alone, you can make it a more formal and complete noun for a product category by adding 飲料 (inryō, meaning beverage) to create ノンアルコール飲料 (non-alcoholic beverage).
What does it mean word for word?
The term is a loanword from English, combining the prefix ノン (non-) with アルコール (arukōru, alcohol).
Which one should you use?
ノンアルコール is typically used as a noun or an adjective to describe the drink itself. While アルコールフリー (alcohol-free) is also used, it often carries a slightly more technical or marketing-oriented nuance.
How do you pronounce it?
non'arukōru
Did you know?
- In Japan, beverages labeled as ノンアルコール (non-alcoholic) may still contain a tiny trace of alcohol, typically up to 0.5%, unlike those labeled アルコールフリー (alcohol-free) which usually contain none.
- Japanese social drinking culture often includes ノンアルコール options to allow colleagues to participate in the ritual of nomikai (drinking parties) without actually consuming alcohol.
- While ノンアルコール is common, you may see the katakana ノンアル (non-aru) used as a common shorthand in casual conversation or on menus.
Examples in context
- ノンアルコール飲料を飲みます。nonarukōru inryō o nomimasu.I will drink a non-alcoholic beverage.
- ノンアルコールでも美味しいですね。nonarukōru demo oishii desu ne.Even non-alcoholic drinks are delicious, aren't they?
- ノンアルコールを探しています。nonarukōru o sagashite imasu.I am looking for non-alcoholic options.
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are ordering drinks at a restaurant.
- 結衣 Yui蓮さんは何を飲みますか？Ren-san wa nani o nomimasu ka?What will you drink, Ren?
- 蓮 Ren僕はノンアルコールのカクテルにします。Boku wa non-arukōru no kakuteru ni shimasu.I'll have a non-alcoholic cocktail.
- 結衣 Yuiいいですね。私もそれにします。Ii desu ne. Watashi mo sore ni shimasu.That sounds good. I'll have that too.
- 蓮 Renじゃあ、一緒に注文しましょう。Jā, issho ni chūmon shimashō.Then, let's order together.
