Japanese words of Portuguese origin

The Portuguese arrived in Japan around 1542-1543, being the first Europeans to establish a continuous and direct flow of trade between Japan and Europe. This also influenced the Japanese Language, as various products arrived in Japan during that time through the Portuguese.

Over the years, it is speculated that more than 4,000 Japanese words have been influenced by the Portuguese Language and the Portuguese. In this article, we will see a list of some of these 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

Below are some more terms of Portuguese origin (or not) that gained prominence in the Japanese language:

Tempura – The Têmporas were days of religious fasting on which Portuguese Catholics did not eat meat and fried battered vegetables and fish, foods that were normally consumed raw or cooked by the Japanese.

Iruman – Term used at the beginning of the Christianization of Japan to identify the missionary before becoming a priest.

Arigatou

Arigato does not have Portuguese origins as some think. In reality, “arigato” is the modern form of “arigatashi” from archaic Japanese, which consists of the agglutination of “Ari” from the verb “Aru” (to be, to exist) and “Katashi,” an adjective that means difficulty. In other words, I have difficulty expressing my gratitude.

The Ne of Portuguese x Ne of Japanese

This word is used to emphasize what has just been said. In Portuguese, “né” also has the same function, being a contraction of the phrase “Não é?”. However, it is very likely that it is just a coincidence.

To learn more, we recommend reading: What does ne [ね] mean in the Japanese language

I intend to expand this list soon. If you find any important missing words or any errors, please leave your comment.