Japanese word

俺

Pronunciation

Romajiore

Meaning

  • pronounI

Example

俺は学生です。ore wa gaku sei de su

I am a student.

Illustration for 俺 (I)

More examples

これは俺の本です。ko re wa ore no hon de su

This is my book.

Core concept

Presents the speaker as a familiar, often masculine voice rather than a formally distant one.

Common phrases

  • 俺のore no

    my

  • 俺もore mo

    me too

Similar words

私watashi: A first-person pronoun suitable for formal, polite, and neutral speech.
僕boku: A first-person pronoun often used by boys and men in familiar conversation.

Definition in Japanese

自分自身を指す、親しい間柄で用いる一人称代名詞。男性的な印象を伴うことが多い。ji bun ji shin o sa su shita shi i aida gara de mochi i ru ichi nin shō dai mei shi dan sei teki na in shō o tomona u ko to ga ō i

Word origin

俺 (ore, "I") is historically connected with the older form をれ (wore), which also referred to the speaker; the deeper origin of this native pronoun is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 俺 (ore) can sound confident or rough depending on the speaker and situation, while formal settings usually call for another first-person term.

Other meanings

  • mepronoun

Word lists with this word