Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 私達 | watashitachi | [β̞a̠ta̠ɕi̥ta̠t͡ɕi] (narrow) [β̞a̠ta̠kɯ̟̊ɕita̠t͡ɕi] (narrow) |
|
| 我ら | warera | [β̞a̠ɾe̞ɾa̠] (narrow) | |
| 我々 | wareware | [β̞a̠ɾe̞β̞a̠ɾe̞] (narrow) | |
| 僕ら | bokura | [bo̞kɯ̟ɾa̠] (narrow) | |
| 僕達 | bokutachi | [bo̞kɯ̟̊ta̠t͡ɕi] (narrow) | |
| 私ども | watashidomo | ||
| 俺達 | oretachi | [o̞ɾe̞ta̠t͡ɕi] (narrow) | informal, mainly, vulgar |
| 俺等 | oira | dialectal |
All these forms refer to a generic "we" (the speaker and at least one other person, regardless of whether the person being addressed is included).
Which one should you use?
While 私達 is the standard way to say "we", 我々 is a more formal and professional version often used in speeches or by organizations to emphasize the unity of a group.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
私達 is the most common and neutral form. For highly formal or professional settings, such as business meetings or representing a group to a superior or customer, you can use 我々 or the humble form 私ども. Among young people or friends in casual settings, 僕たち is a common choice. For males in casual speech, 僕ら is often used, while 俺達 is a masculine, highly informal and often vulgar way to say "we" used among close male friends. 我ら is also available, but 俺等 is a dialectal form.
Is it said differently in some regions?
俺等 is a dialectal form.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 僕ら is a contraction of 僕達 and is commonly used in spoken Japanese.
How do you pronounce it?
watashitachi
Did you know?
- The pronoun 僕 inside 僕ら originally meant 'servant', reflecting a history where the speaker positioned themselves as lower than the listener.
- In Japanese, it is common to omit 'we' entirely if the group is understood from context. Using a word like 私達 too often can sound unnatural to a native speaker.
- While 俺達 is masculine, you may hear it used by female characters in anime or manga to signal a 'tomboy' persona or a rebellious attitude.
Examples in context
- 僕らは話した。We talked.This sentence demonstrates the use of 僕ら.Tatoeba #7430474 by Ninja, translation #2107672 by CK
- 僕らは待った。We waited.Tatoeba #7430475 by Ninja, translation #2107674 by CK
- 僕らは読めた。We could read.Tatoeba #7492637 by Ninja, translation #2241061 by CK
- 私共は大変光栄ですWe are honored.
- 我々は新しい未来を築きましょうLet's build a new future.
- 私どもがお手伝いいたしますWe will assist you.
- 僕たちがコンサートに行くよWe are going to a concert!
- 俺たちは仲間だWe are friends.
- 643 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- 結衣 Yui私達、何を食べましょうか？Watashitachi, nani o tabemashou ka?What shall we eat?
- 蓮 Renイタリアンはどうかな？Itarian wa dou kana?How about Italian?
- 結衣 Yuiいいですね。行きましょう！Ii desu ne. Ikimashou!That sounds good. Let's go!
- 蓮 Renうん、行こう。Un, ikou.Yeah, let's go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “we” translations and entries 私達, 我ら, 我々, 僕ら, 僕達, 俺達, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
