Japanese word

エコ

Pronunciation

Romajieko

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveeco-friendly

Example

この車はエコです。ko no kuruma wa e ko de su

This car is eco-friendly.

Illustration for エコ (eco-friendly)

More examples

家族でエコな暮らしを始めました。ka zoku de e ko na ku ra shi o haji me ma shi ta

My family and I started living an eco-friendly lifestyle.

Core concept

Marks an action, product, or way of living as mindful of environmental impact.

Common phrases

  • エコな暮らしe ko na ku ra shi

    an eco-friendly lifestyle

  • エコな商品e ko na shō hin

    an eco-friendly product

  • エコに暮らすe ko ni ku ra su

    live in an eco-friendly way

Similar words

サステナブルsasutenaburu: Describes a product, action, or way of living that can continue with limited harm to the environment.
省エネshōene: Describes a product, action, or practice that reduces the amount of energy it uses.
グリーンgurīn: Describes a product, service, or policy connected with environmental protection.
低炭素teitanso: Describes a product, process, or policy that limits carbon dioxide emissions.

Definition in Japanese

自然環境への影響を抑えることを重視したさま。shi zen kan kyō e no ei kyō o osa e ru ko to o jū shi shi ta sa ma

Word origin

エコ (eko) is a clipped form of エコロジー (ekorojī), which was borrowed from the English word ecology; the shortened form came to mean environmentally friendly.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, エコ (eko) can describe products, transportation, or daily habits, whereas English usually uses eco-friendly when the meaning is explicitly environmental.

Other meanings

  • ecologicalna-adjective

Related words

  • エコさekosaeco-friendlinessnoun

Word lists with this word