サッカー
sakkā[sa̠k̚ka̠ː]
The Japanese word for soccer is サッカー (sakkā). Wiktionary also lists 蹴球 (shūkyū) and フットボール (futtobōru).
Meaning: game (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| サッカー | sakkā | [sa̠k̚ka̠ː] (narrow) | |
| 蹴球 | shūkyū | [ɕɨːkʲɨː] (narrow) | rare |
| フットボール | futtobōru | [ɸɯ̟̊t̚to̞bo̞ːɾɯ̟] (narrow) | UK |
The primary way to refer to the sport is サッカー. To express the action of playing the sport, you use the verb suru (to do), resulting in the phrase サッカーをする, rather than using a specific verb for 'play' as in English.
What does it mean word for word?
The rare term 蹴球 (shūkyū) is a literal combination of the characters for 'kick' and 'ball'.
Which one should you use?
サッカー is the standard term. フットボール is the katakana transliteration of 'football', which is sometimes used but can be ambiguous with American football depending on the context. 蹴球 is a rare term.
Is it said differently in some regions?
フットボール is noted as being used in the UK.
How do you pronounce it?
sakkā
Did you know?
- The word サッカー uses the katakana script, which is the same script used for foreign-derived words, signaling to the reader that the concept was imported from the West.
- If you use the kanji-based term 蹴球, you are using a word that sounds much more formal than the standard katakana version.
- The kanji in 蹴球 can be read in different ways, but in the context of the sport, the reading is specifically 'shūkyū'.
Examples in context
- サッカー歴何年？How long have you played soccer?This sentence is useful for asking about the duration of someone's experience with サッカー.Tatoeba #11217052 by small_snow, translation #69819 by CK
- サッカーをやろう。Let's play soccer.This sentence is useful for suggesting that one play サッカー.Tatoeba #216799 by KK_kaku_, translation #54105 by CK
- 彼はサッカーをする。He plays soccer.This sentence is useful for stating that someone plays サッカー.Tatoeba #2354067 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #290024 by CK
- 先週、私たちはサッカーの試合をしました。Last week, we had a soccer match.
- ニュースで有名なサッカーの選手がリーグに加わりました。A famous soccer player joined the league, as reported in the news.
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their weekend plans.
- 美咲 Misaki今週末、サッカーの試合があるよ。Konshūmatsu, sakkā no shiai ga aru yo.There is a soccer match this weekend.
- 大翔 Hirotoいいな！どこで見られるの？Ii na! Doko de mirareru no?Nice! Where can I watch it?
- 美咲 Misaki近くの公園でやるから、来てね。Chikaku no kōen de yaru kara, kite ne.It's at the nearby park, so please come.
- 大翔 Hirotoわかった。サッカーの応援に行くよ！Wakatta. Sakkā no ōen ni iku yo!Got it. I'll go cheer for the soccer team!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “soccer” translations and entries サッカー, 蹴球, フットボール, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
