🇯🇵 Japanese phrases

How to Say "Sister" in Japanese

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
"Sister" in Japanese · say it like ah-neh

The most natural way to say "Sister" in Japanese is . Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

used for younger sister
姉妹
means sisters (plural)

When to use it

Use '姉' when referring to your older sister or someone else's older sister. It is a respectful term. For younger sisters, use '妹'. In casual conversations, you might just use the person's name instead.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "Sister" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Japanese

JapaneseEnglish
私の姉は大学生です。My older sister is a university student.
姉と一緒に買い物に行きました。I went shopping with my older sister.
Common mistake
Some learners confuse '姉' with '妹', which means younger sister.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear 姉, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Japanese with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say younger sister in Japanese?

You say '妹' (imouto) for younger sister.

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