パンケーキ
pankēki[pã̠ŋke̞ːkʲi]
The Japanese word for pancake is パンケーキ (pankēki). Wiktionary also lists プリンゼン (burinzen) and ブリヌイ (burinui).
Meaning: thin batter cake (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| パンケーキ | pankēki | [pã̠ŋke̞ːkʲi] (narrow) |
| プリンゼン | burinzen | |
| ブリヌイ | burinui |
In modern Japan, パンケーキ is the standard term used for Western-style fluffy or thin pancakes. A unique pancake style in Japan is called スフレパンケーキ (Japanese soufflé pancakes).
How do you pronounce it?
pankēki
Did you know?
- In some Japanese contexts, the word パン (pan) for bread comes from the Portuguese word 'pão'. This means the 'pan' in パンケーキ is a coincidence, as it is borrowed from the English word 'pancake' rather than the Japanese word for bread.
- In Japan, the term 'hotcake' (ホットケーキ) is actually more common in domestic-style breakfast contexts than the direct loanword 'pancake'.
- If you were looking for a pancake-like dish in traditional Japanese cuisine, you would look for お好み焼き (okonomiyaki), which uses a savory batter and is culturally very different.
Examples in context
- 今日は朝からホットケーキを食べました。とても美味しかったです!I had pancakes for breakfast today. They were very delicious!
- 友達とパンケーキを食べに行きたいな。I want to go eat pancakes with my friends.
- パンケーキを食べたいです。pankēki o tabetai desu.I want to eat pancakes.
- このパンケーキはとてもふわふわです。kono pankēki wa totemo fuwafuwa desu.This pancake is very fluffy.
- パンケーキにシロップをかけます。pankēki ni shiroppu o kakemasu.I pour syrup on the pancake.
Example conversation
Hiroto and Yui are at a cafe.
- 大翔 Hiroto何にする？nani ni suru?What are you going to have?
- 結衣 Yui私はパンケーキにするね。watashi wa pankeiki ni suru ne.I'll have the pancakes.
- 大翔 Hirotoいいえ、僕もパンケーキにするよ。iie, boku mo pankeiki ni suru yo.Actually, I'll have pancakes too.
- 結衣 Yui二人とも同じだね！futari tomo onaji da ne!We're both having the same thing!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pancake” translations and entries パンケーキ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
