Japanese word

ジラフ

Pronunciation

Romajijirafu

Meaning

  • noungiraffe

Example

動物園でジラフを見ました。dō butsu en de ji ra fu o mi ma shi ta

I saw a giraffe at the zoo.

Illustration for ジラフ (giraffe)

More examples

ジラフは長い首をゆっくり動かします。ji ra fu wa naga i kubi o yu kku ri ugo ka shi ma su

The giraffe slowly moves its long neck.

Core concept

Describes an African browsing mammal that reaches high foliage with an exceptionally long neck and stands on long legs.

Common phrases

  • ジラフの首ji ra fu no kubi

    a giraffe's neck

  • ジラフを見るji ra fu o mi ru

    look at a giraffe

Similar words

キリンkirin: The standard everyday Japanese word for this long-necked African mammal.

Definition in Japanese

高い木の葉を食べるための長い首と、体に斑点模様を持つアフリカの大型動物。taka i ko no ha o ta be ru ta me no naga i kubi to karada ni han ten mo yō o mo tsu a fu ri ka no ō gata dō butsu

Word origin

The Japanese word ジラフ (jirafu, "giraffe") is borrowed from English giraffe, whose recorded path includes French girafe and Italian giraffa from Arabic zarāfa.

Usage tips

  • The plural giraffes keeps the base spelling and adds an "iz" sound, producing a form like giraff-iz rather than an irregular plural.

Word lists with this word