Japanese Words of Portuguese Origin

The Portuguese reached Japan around 1542/1543 and were among the first Europeans to build a steady trading relationship with the country. That contact also left traces in Japanese, because many words entered the language through Portuguese merchants, missionaries and goods.

Depending on how you count them, several thousand Japanese words are said to show Portuguese influence. Below is a selection of those words.

Romaji	Kana / Kanji	Archaic Portuguese	Modern Portuguese
arukōru	アルコール	álcools	álcool
bateren	伴天連 / 破天連	padre	padre
bīdama	ビー玉	vi(dro) + 玉 (dama = "ball")	berlinde, marble
biidoro	ビードロ	vidro	vidro
birōdo	ビロード ou 天鵞絨	veludo	veludo
bouro/bouru	ボーロボール	bolo	cake, ball
botan	ボタン釦 / 鈕	botão	button
buranko	ブランコ	balanço	swing
charumera/charumeru	チャルメラ / 哨吶	charamela	charamela
chokki	チョッキ	jaque	jacket, vest
furasuko	フラスコ	frasco	flask
iesu	イエス	Jesu	Jesus
igirisu	イギリス / 英吉利	inglez	English
iruman	イルマン / 入満 / 伊留満 / 由婁漫	irmão	brother
jouro	じょうろ / 如雨露	jarro	jug
juban/jiban	じゅばん / 襦袢	gibão	t-shirt
kanakin/kanekin	金巾 / ▽かなきん / ▽かねきん	canequim	canequim
kantera/kandeya	カンテラ / カンデヤ	candeia, candela	candeia
kapitan	甲比丹 / 甲必丹	capitão	captain
kappa	合羽	capa	raincoat
karuta	かるた / 歌留多 / 加留多 / 骨牌	cartas	playing cards
kasutera, kasuteera,kasuteira	カステラ	castella	sponge cake
kirishitan	キリシタン / 切支丹 / 吉利支丹	christão	christian
kirisuto	キリスト or 基督	Christo	Christ
kompeitō	金米糖 / 金平糖 / 金餅糖	confeito	confetti
koppu	コップ	copo	cup
kurusu	クルス	cruz	cross
marumero	木瓜 or マルメロ	marmelo	quince
meriyasu	メリヤス / 莫大小 / 目利安	meias	socks
miira	ミイラ / 木乃伊	mirra	myrrh
oranda	オランダ / 和蘭(陀) / 阿蘭陀	Hollanda	Holland
pan	パン / 麺麭 / 麪包	pão	bread
pandoro	パンドロ	Pão-de-ló	sponge cake
rasha	羅紗	raxa	twill
rozario	ロザリオ	rosario	Rosary
sabato	サバト	sábado	Saturday
sarasa	更紗	saraça	morim
shabon	シャボン	sabão	soap
shabondama	シャボン玉	sabão + 玉 (dama = ball)	soap bubble
shōro	ショーロ	choro	choro
shurasuko	シュラスコ	churrasco	barbecue
subeta	すべた / スベタ	espada	sword
tabako	煙草 / 莨	tabaco	tobacco
tempura	天麩羅 / 天婦羅	Têmporas	Têmporas
zabon	朱欒 / 香欒	zamboa	grapefruit

Curiosities

Some of these words are clearly linked to Portuguese, while others have debated etymologies. That is why it helps to look at the historical contact itself, not just at words that sound similar.

The loanwords also show how Japanese adapted foreign sounds to its own system. Words such as pan, tempura and shabon were reshaped so they could fit Japanese pronunciation more naturally.

Tempura - The connection to the Têmporas is often mentioned. These were religious fast days on which Portuguese Catholics did not eat meat and instead ate fried vegetables and fish. In Japan, that cooking style met an already existing food culture and became a loanword.

Iruman - A term used in the early Christianization of Japan to identify a missionary before becoming a priest.

Arigatou

Arigatou does not come from Portuguese, as some people think. In reality, it is the modern form of arigatashi from archaic Japanese, built from aru and katashi. In other words, the original sense is close to: “It is hard to express my gratitude.”

The Portuguese and Japanese Ne

This word is used to emphasize what has just been said. In Portuguese, “né” serves a very similar function and comes from “Não é?”. Even so, it is most likely just a coincidence.

To learn more, you can also read: What does ne [ね] mean in the Japanese language

I plan to expand this list soon. If you notice an important word missing or spot an error, please leave a comment.