マフラー
mafurā[ma̠ɸɯ̟ɾa̠ː]
The Japanese word for scarves is マフラー (mafurā).
マフラー refers specifically to thick, warm scarves worn during the winter to provide warmth.
Which one should you use?
Use マフラー for thick, warm winter scarves, whereas スカーフ (sukāfu) refers to lighter, decorative fashion scarves.
How do you pronounce it?
mafurā
Did you know?
- In Japan, there is a tradition of giving a マフラー as a gift during the winter, often as a romantic gesture to show care for a partner's health and warmth.
- In Japanese, the word マフラー (mafurā) is a loanword from the English 'muffler', which in English usually refers to a car part or a silencer rather than a neck warmer.
- Because the concept of a マフラー is associated with winter, it is a common visual trope in anime and manga to signal that a character is shy or feeling cold.
Examples in context
- 新しいマフラーを買いました。Atarashii mafurā o kaimashita.I bought a new scarf.
- このマフラーはとても暖かいです。Kono mafurā wa totemo atatakai desu.This scarf is very warm.
- 赤いマフラーをプレゼントします。Akai mafurā o purezento shimasu.I will give a red scarf as a gift.
Example conversation
Two people are talking about winter fashion in a coffee shop.
- 陽太 Yotaそのマフラー、とても可愛いですね。Sono mafurā, totemo kawaii desu ne.That scarf is very cute.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとうございます。お気に入りなんです。Arigatō gozaimasu. Oki ni iri nan desu.Thank you. It's my favorite.
- 陽太 Yota色はどんな種類がありますか？Iro wa donna shurui ga arimasu ka?What kind of colors do they have?
- 結衣 Yui他にも青いマフラーがありますよ。Hoka ni mo aoi mafurā ga arimasu yo.They have blue scarves too.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry マフラー, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries マフラー, CC BY-SA 4.0.
