GAIRAIGO.JEPANG.ORG

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Japanese Loanwords from Spanish

Explore Japanese loanwords marked as coming from Spanish, with meanings and source notes where available.

This page gathers gairaigo with a source trace from Spanish. That trace may appear in the sound of the word, its katakana form, or the origin notes shown on the entry.

Treat the source language as a helpful guide, not the whole history of the word. Some words have more than one path into Japanese, some were shortened, and some changed meaning after entering Japanese.

161 entries

Showing 1-48 of 161 entries // Page 1 of 4

アステカ

asuteka

Society & Institutions

The indigenous people and empire centered in central Mexico before the Spanish conquest.

アディオス

adiosu

Expressions & Discourse

A casual goodbye borrowed from Spanish.

エルニーニョ

eru niinyo

Places & Environment

A periodic warming of Pacific Ocean waters.

カーサ

kaasa

Home & Lifestyle

A house or dwelling.

カカオ

kakao

Food & Drink

A tropical tree that produces cacao beans.

金糸雀

kanaria

Places & Environment

A small songbird, especially the island canary.

ガウチョ

gaucho

Objects & Tools

A gaucho; also, gaucho pants.

ゲバリスタ

gebarisuta

People & Social Life

A supporter or follower of Guevara or Guevarism.

コリーダ

koriida

Arts & Entertainment

A bullfight, especially the Spanish style called corrida.

サルサ

sarusa

Food & Drink

Salsa, especially the sauce or the dance style.

サングリア

sanguria

Food & Drink

A wine-based fruit punch.

シエスタ

shiesuta

Actions & Events

An afternoon nap or rest period.

テキーラ

tekiira

Food & Drink

A Mexican spirit distilled from agave.

トルティーヤ

torutiiya

Food & Drink

A thin, flat unleavened bread made from corn or wheat flour.

ドン

don

People & Social Life

A Spanish honorific or a term for an influential boss or 'bigwig'.

ピカドール

pikadooru

Arts & Entertainment

Bullfighter on horseback who pricks the bull with a lance.

フォルクローレ

forukuroore

Arts & Entertainment

Traditional music and folklore, specifically from the Andean and South American regions.

フラメンコ

furamenko

Arts & Entertainment

A style of Spanish music and dance.

プラチナ

purachina

Objects & Tools

Precious silvery-white metallic element used in jewelry and industry.

ボレロ

borero

Arts & Entertainment

A Spanish dance or a short open-front jacket.

ポンチョ

poncho

Home & Lifestyle

A garment with a hole for the head, worn as a cloak.

マタドール

matadooru

People & Social Life

Matador.

マラカス

marakasu

Arts & Entertainment

A pair of handheld percussion shakers called maracas.

マリファナ

marifana

Science & Medicine

Marijuana or cannabis.

ムーチョ

muucho

Expressions & Discourse

A pre-noun form borrowed from Spanish meaning 'much/many' or 'large amount' in context.

ムラート

muraato

People & Social Life

A noun for a person of mixed white and black ancestry, historically used and now often considered outdated.

ラマ

rama

Places & Environment

A South American camelid used as a pack animal and for its wool.

ルンバ

runba

Arts & Entertainment

A rhythmic dance and music genre of Cuban origin.

莫大小

meriyasu

Objects & Tools

Fabric or clothing made by interlocking loops of yarn.

メリヤスシャツ

meriyasu shatsu

Home & Lifestyle

A shirt worn under other clothes, typically made of knitted fabric.

メリンス

merinsu

Objects & Tools

A light, plain-weave woolen fabric.

インディオ

indio

People & Social Life

Indigenous people of Central and South America.

タコス

takosu

Food & Drink

A Mexican dish consisting of a folded tortilla filled with meat and vegetables.

バルボア

baruboa

Society & Institutions

The official currency of Panama.

カルパ

karupa

Transport & Travel

A portable shelter made of fabric.

バル

baru

Food & Drink

A Spanish-style restaurant and bar serving small plates and drinks.

ペセタ

peseta

Society & Institutions

Former currency of Spain used before the adoption of the Euro.

メルルーサ

meruruusa

Food & Drink

A type of marine fish belonging to the family Merlucciidae.

ナタデココ

nata de koko

Food & Drink

A chewy, translucent, jelly-like food produced by the fermentation of coconut water.

チャランゴ

charango

Arts & Entertainment

Small Andean stringed instrument of the lute family.

タマリンド

tamarindo

Food & Drink

A tropical fruit with a tangy, edible pulp.

チャチャチャ

chachacha

Arts & Entertainment

A ballroom dance of Cuban origin.

グリンゴ

guringo

People & Social Life

A person from an English-speaking country, especially the US.

バンデリリェロ

bandeririero

Arts & Entertainment

A bullfighter who plants decorated darts (banderillas) into the bull.

パエリア

paeria

Food & Drink

Traditional Spanish rice dish cooked in a wide, shallow pan.

ハバネラ

habanera

Arts & Entertainment

A slow Cuban dance and music style in duple time.

ネグリロ

neguriro

Society & Institutions

A historical term for certain small-statured ethnic groups in Central Africa.

パソドブレ

paso dobure

Arts & Entertainment

A fast-paced Spanish dance modeled after the sound and drama of a bullfight.

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