Japanese word

スペシャル

Pronunciation

Romajisupesharu

Meaning

  • na-adjectivespecial

Example

今日はスペシャルな日です。kyō wa su pe sha ru na hi de su

Today is a special day.

Illustration for スペシャル (special)

More examples

誕生日には、スペシャルなケーキを選びます。tan jō hi ni wa su pe sha ru na kē ki o era bi ma su

I choose a special cake for my birthday.

Core concept

Describes something that stands out from the ordinary because of an unusual value, quality, or occasion.

Common phrases

  • スペシャルな日su pe sha ru na hi

    a special day

  • スペシャルな時間su pe sha ru na ji kan

    a special time

Similar words

特別tokubetsu: Describes something given unusual importance or treated as set apart from the ordinary.

Definition in Japanese

普通と異なり、際立った価値や性質を持つさま。fu tsū to koto na ri kiwa da tta ka chi ya sei shitsu o mo tsu sa ma

Word origin

スペシャル (supesharu) is a Japanese loanword from English special, ultimately from Latin specialis, meaning "particular" or "distinctive."

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, スペシャル (supesharu) is followed by な (na) when it modifies a noun, as in スペシャルな日 (supesharu na hi), unlike English special.

Opposites

Related words

  • スペシャル感supesharukanspecialnessnoun

Word lists with this word