Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ウエーター | uētā | |
| ウエイター | ueitā | [ɯ̟e̞ːta̠ː] (narrow) |
| 給仕 | kyūji | [kʲɨːʑi] (narrow) |
The primary way to refer to a waiter is through loanwords from English. You can also use more traditional or general terms depending on the context of the service.
Which one should you use?
The loanwords ウエーター and ウエイター are both used to refer to a male waiter. While ウエーター is a common spelling, ウエイター is also used. If you need to specify a female waitress, the term ウェイトレス is used. For a more general and gender-neutral way to refer to any staff member in a restaurant or shop, the word 店員 is very common.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term 給仕 is a formal and traditional word that refers to the role of a server or the act of serving. In contrast, the loanwords ウエーター and ウエイター are more modern and commonly used in everyday settings.
How do you pronounce it?
uētā
When do people say it?
In Japanese restaurants, it is rare to call out 'Waiter!' to get someone's attention.
Did you know?
- In many traditional Japanese eateries, you will not find a ウエーター at all because customers order directly from the chef or use a ticket machine.
- In high-end Japanese dining, the server may be referred to as a 仲居 if they are a traditional inn attendant who manages both the room and the meals.
- Instead of using a noun like 'waiter', most customers catch a server's attention by simply saying すみません (sumimasen), which means 'excuse me'.
Examples in context
- ジョンは、大きな声でウエイターを呼んだ。John called for the waiter in a loud voice.This sentence shows how to use ウエイター when calling for a waiter.Tatoeba #215435 by arnab, translation #52736 by CN
- まもなく例のウエーターが皿を片付けに戻ってきた。Soon the same waiter came back to pick up the dishes.This sentence demonstrates the use of ウエーター when referring to a specific waiter.Tatoeba #195236 by Blanka_Meduzo, translation #32410 by mcq
- そのウエーターはとても親切でした。Sono uētā wa totemo shinsetsu deshita.That waiter was very kind.
Example conversation
A couple is dining at a restaurant.
- 大翔 Hirotoウエーターさんに注文をお願いしよう。Ueitā-san ni chūmon o onegai shiyō.Let's ask the waiter for our order.
- 美咲 Misakiそうね。あの方に声をかけよう。Sō ne. Ano kata ni koe o kakeyō.You're right. Let's call that person.
- 大翔 Hirotoすみません、ウエーターさん！Sumimasen, ueitā-san!Excuse me, waiter!
- 美咲 Misakiあ、もうこちらに来てくれたわ。A, mō kochira ni kite kureta wa.Oh, he's already coming over here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “waiter” translations and entries ウエーター, ウエイター, 給仕, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
