オウム
The Japanese word for parrot is オウム.
オウム refers to the kind of bird known as a parrot.
Meaning: kind of bird (noun)
Did you know?
- The Japanese language distinguishes between the broad category of オウム and the more specific インコ, which refers to smaller parakeets or lovebirds.
- In Japan, the term オウム is used in the idiom オウム返し, which describes someone who repeats what another person says exactly without thinking.
- While the bird is usually written in Katakana, the Kanji 鸚鵡 is so complex that many native speakers can recognize it but cannot recall how to write it from memory.
Examples in context
- あれはオウムかな？Is that a parrot?This sentence is useful for asking if something is a parrot using オウム.Tatoeba #11491299 by bunbuku, translation #8983415 by CK
- オウムを買ったのね。You bought a parrot.This sentence is useful for stating that someone bought a parrot using オウム.Tatoeba #10654632 by small_snow, translation #5062348 by AlanF_US
- オウムは人の声を真似ることができる。A parrot can mimic a person's voice.This sentence is useful for describing how a parrot can mimic a person's voice using オウム.Tatoeba #227817 by KK_kaku_, translation #65170 by Dejo
- インコが色々な言葉を覚えることができます。Parrots can learn various words.
- オウムって可愛いよね！Parrots are so cute, right!
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are looking at a bird in a pet shop.
- 結衣 Yuiあそこにいるのは、あのオウムかな？Asoko ni iru no wa, ano oumu kana?Is that a parrot over there?
- 健太 Kentaうん、すごくきれいな色のオウムだね。Un, sugoku kirei na iro no oumu da ne.Yeah, it is a very beautiful colored parrot.
- 結衣 Yui健太君は、オウムを飼ってみたい？Kenta-kun wa, oumu o katte mitai?Kenta, do you want to try keeping a parrot?
- 健太 Kentaそうだね、いつか飼いたいと思っているよ。Sou da ne, itsuka kaitai to omotte iru yo.That's true, I'm thinking I want to keep one someday.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry オウム, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
