How to Say "Santa Claus" in Japanese

サンタクロース

Santa Kurōsu[sã̠nta̠ kɯ̟ɾo̞ːsɨ]

The English phrase "santa claus" is translated into Japanese as サンタクロース (Santa Kurōsu).

サンタクロース is the name used for the fictional figure Santa Claus in Japanese. In casual conversation, the name is often shortened to just サンタ.

Meaning: fictional figure (name)

Which one should you use?

Additionally, Santa-san is an informal way to say Santa Claus in Japanese.

Santa Kurōsu

In Japan, サンタクロース is often associated with eating KFC for dinner on Christmas Eve, a tradition started by a marketing campaign in the 1970s.
In Japanese department stores, you might see 'Santa-san' used in advertisements, applying the respectful honorific -san to a Western character to make him feel more approachable and polite to children.
While 'Santa Claus' is a Western concept, the name is written in Katakana, the script used specifically for foreign loanwords, to signal its non-Japanese origin.

サンタクロースは実在する。
Santa Claus exists.
This sentence is useful for stating that サンタクロース exists.
Tatoeba #10905982 by SomeHungryBois, translation #6042711 by mailohilohi
サンタクロースって信じてる？
Do you believe in Santa Claus?
This sentence is useful for asking if someone believes in サンタクロース.
Tatoeba #9176181 by small_snow, translation #6042710 by mailohilohi
サンタクロースは、いつ来るかな？
When is Santa Claus coming?
This sentence is useful for asking when サンタクロース will arrive.
Tatoeba #11365318 by small_snow, translation #7532550 by Hybrid
14 more sentences on Tatoeba

Yui and Kenta are talking about Christmas decorations in a store.

結衣 Yui

サンタクロースの飾りを買おう。
Santa Kurōsu no kazari o kaō.
Let's buy some Santa Claus decorations.
健太 Kenta

いいよ、あっちにあるよ。
Ii yo, acchi ni aru yo.
Okay, they are over there.
結衣 Yui

健太君、あそこのサンタクロース、可愛いね。
Kenta-kun, asoko no Santa Kurōsu, kawaii ne.
Kenta, that Santa Claus over there is cute.
健太 Kenta

本当だね、これにしよう。
Hontō da ne, kore ni shiyō.
You're right, let's go with this one.

Sources

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