野良犬
norainu[no̞ɾa̠inɯ̟]
The English phrase "stray dog" is translated into Japanese as 野良犬 (norainu).
The term refers to an ownerless dog.
Meaning: ownerless dog (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 野良 (nora), meaning 'in the wild' or 'wandering' and 犬 (inu), meaning 'dog'.
How do you pronounce it?
norainu
Did you know?
- In modern Japanese pop culture, the term 野良 is often used as a prefix for unofficial or unlicensed versions of software and apps, such as 'stray' servers.
- Japanese uses the same root 野良 for 野良猫 (stray cat), but it also describes 野良仕事, which refers to manual farm work done outdoors.
- While 野良犬 refers to a stray, Japanese distinguishes this from 迷子犬, which specifically describes a pet that has become lost and is seeking its owner.
Examples in context
- あの野良犬はとても賢い。Ano norainu wa totemo kashikoi.That stray dog is very smart.
- 公園に野良犬がいました。Kōen ni norainu ga imashita.There was a stray dog in the park.
- 野良犬を助けるのは難しい。Norainu o tasukeru no wa muzukashii.It is difficult to help a stray dog.
Example conversation
Two siblings are walking home from school and see a dog.
- 陽太 Yotaあそこに野良犬がいるよ。Asoko ni norainu ga iru yo.There is a stray dog over there.
- 陽葵 Himari本当だ、小さくて可愛いね。Hontō da, chiisakute kawaii ne.You're right, it's small and cute.
- 陽太 Yotaどこから来たのかな。Doko kara kita no kana.I wonder where it came from.
- 陽葵 Himariお腹が空いているかもしれないよ。Onaka ga suite iru kamoshirenai yo.It might be hungry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stray dog” translations and entries 野良犬, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
