Japanese word

レトロ

Pronunciation

Romajiretoro

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveretro

Example

この店はレトロです。ko no mise wa re to ro de su

This shop is retro.

Illustration for レトロ (retro)

More examples

喫茶店の内装がレトロで、落ち着きます。kis sa ten no nai sō ga re to ro de o chi tsu ki ma su

The cafe's interior is retro, so I feel relaxed.

Core concept

Refers to something that evokes the design and mood of a past era without necessarily being genuinely old.

Common phrases

  • レトロな喫茶店re to ro na kis sa ten

    a retro coffee shop

  • レトロな雰囲気re to ro na fun i ki

    a retro atmosphere

Similar words

古風kofū: Describes a style that follows customs, manners, or design from an earlier time.
昔風mukashikaze: Describes something made or arranged in the style of the past.
懐古的kaikoteki: Expresses a longing for or remembrance of an earlier time.

Definition in Japanese

過去の時代の雰囲気や様式を取り入れているさま。ka ko no ji dai no fun i ki ya yō shiki o to ri i re te i ru sa ma

Word origin

レトロ (retoro) comes from English retro, which is shortened from retrospective and ultimately derives from Latin retrospectus, meaning "looked back".

Usage tips

  • English uses retro widely in combinations such as retro design and retro clothing for modern products modeled on earlier fashions.

Other meanings

  • nostalgicna-adjective
  • old-fashionedna-adjective

Opposites

  • 現代的gendaitekimodernna-adjective

Related words

  • レトロ感retorokanretro feelnoun
  • レトロさretorosaretro qualitynoun

Word lists with this word