ペンギン
pengin[pẽ̞ŋʲɡʲĩɴ]
The English word 'penguin' is expressed in Japanese as ペンギン (pengin). Wiktionary also lists 人鳥 (jinchō) and 企鵝 (kiga).
Meaning: flightless sea bird (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ペンギン | pengin | [pẽ̞ŋʲɡʲĩɴ] (narrow) | |
| 人鳥 | jinchō | rare | |
| 企鵝 | kiga |
The word refers to the flightless sea bird. In modern Japanese, the most common way to say penguin is the katakana loanword ペンギン.
What does it mean word for word?
The rare form 人鳥 (jinchō) is a literal expression meaning 'human bird'.
Which one should you use?
ペンギン is the standard modern term. 人鳥 is a rare, more literary or archaic way to refer to a penguin. 企鵝 is another form of the word.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
人鳥 is a rare and literary term.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is pengin.
Did you know?
- The use of katakana for ペンギン is common for animals that are not native to Japan, distinguishing them from native species usually written in kanji.
- In certain classical texts, the bird is referred to as 企鵝 (kiga), a term that emphasizes its resemblance to a goose rather than its flightless nature.
- In Japanese pop culture, the 'penguin walk' is often used as a comedic trope to describe someone walking with a stiff, waddling gait.
Examples in context
- あなたはペンギンじゃないのよ。You are not a penguin.This sentence uses ペンギン to show how to negate the noun.Tatoeba #9483453 by small_snow, translation #10006959 by tsp_2
- この赤ちゃんペンギンとっても可愛い！This baby penguin is too cute!This sentence uses ペンギン to describe a cute baby animal.Tatoeba #5201 by bunbuku, translation #1848 by Zifre
- トムに歩き方がペンギンみたいって言われた。Tom told me I walked like a penguin.This sentence uses ペンギン to compare a walking style to a penguin.Tatoeba #3128268 by tommy_san, translation #3129148 by WestofEden
- ペンギンという生物は、南極に生息しています。Penguins, known as such, inhabit Antarctica.
- ねえ、ペンギンって言葉覚えたかな？Hey, did you remember the word 'penguin'?
Example conversation
A couple is visiting an aquarium together.
- 結衣 Yuiあ、あそこにペンギンがいるよ！A, asoko ni pengin ga iru yo!Oh, look, there's a penguin over there!
- 大翔 Hiroto本当だ。泳ぐのがとても速いね。Hontou da. Oyogu no ga totemo hayai ne.You're right. It swims very fast.
- 結衣 Yuiペンギンって、歩く姿も独特だよね。Pengin tte, aruku sugata mo dokutoku da yo ne.Penguins have such a unique way of walking, too.
- 大翔 Hiroto結衣、あっちのペンギンも見てごらん。Yui, acchi no pengin mo mite goran.Yui, look at that penguin over there, too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “penguin” translations and entries ペンギン, 人鳥, 企鵝, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
