Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 狼 | ōkami | [o̞ːka̠mʲi] (narrow) [o̞ːka̠me̞] (narrow) |
| オオカミ | ōkami | |
| ウルフ | urufu | [ɯ̟ɾɯ̟ɸɯ̟] (narrow) |
The term is used to refer to the animal. To describe something that resembles a wolf, you can use the phrase ookami no yō. If you are referring specifically to a werewolf, the term is jinrou and the sound of a wolf howling is called hōkō.
What does it mean word for word?
The kanji characters for 狼 literally mean beast of the mountains.
Which one should you use?
オオカミ is the standard way to write the word for the animal in modern Japanese, particularly in general or scientific contexts. The kanji version 狼 is used for a more literary or dramatic tone, often appearing in formal writing and idioms. The loanword ウルフ is derived from English and is used for stylized terms or specific names, such as a wolf cut hairstyle, rather than the biological animal.
How do you pronounce it?
ōkami
Did you know?
- The word オオカミ is historically derived from the words for 'great' and 'god' (大 and 神), reflecting the ancient Japanese belief that wolves were divine messengers.
- The Japanese wolf 狼 is an extinct subspecies that lived in the Japanese archipelago, leading to the animal becoming a mythical figure in folklore rather than a common sight.
- In ancient Japan, wolves were revered as protectors of crops because they hunted wild boar and deer that destroyed farmers' fields.
Examples in context
- 狼になりたい。I want to be a wolf.This sentence shows how to express a desire to be a wolf using 狼.Tatoeba #12835210 by KK_kaku_, translation #12834546 by Lumi_alt
- あれはオオカミだ。That's a wolf.This sentence demonstrates the use of the standard katakana form オオカミ to identify a wolf.Tatoeba #8634654 by small_snow, translation #8634642 by Eccles17
- 子羊は狼に殺された。The lamb was killed by the wolf.This sentence shows how 狼 is used when describing an action involving the wolf.Tatoeba #168388 by KK_kaku_, translation #246104 by adjusting
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota and Misaki are looking at a picture book of animals.
- 陽太 Yotaこの写真の動物は狼かな？Kono shashin no dōbutsu wa ōkami kana?I wonder if the animal in this photo is a wolf?
- 美咲 Misakiううん、犬だと思うよ。Uun, inu da to omou yo.No, I think it's a dog.
- 陽太 Yota本当だ、狼より鼻が短いね。Hontō da, ōkami yori hana ga mijikai ne.You're right, its nose is shorter than a wolf's.
- 美咲 Misakiよく見たね、陽太。Yoku mita ne, Yōta.You looked closely, Yota.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wolf” translations and entries 狼, オオカミ, ウルフ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ウルフ, オオカミ, 狼, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
