How to pronounce gaijin
Say it like GHY-jin. Gaijin has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GHY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce gaijin. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- GHY
- jin
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Gaijin pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- GHYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- jinGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of gaijin
American and British speakers say gaijin in essentially the same way: /ˈɡaɪˌdʒɪn/ in the US and /ˈɡaɪˌdʒɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: GHY-jin.
What does gaijin mean?
- A non-Japanese person.
- A white person.
Questions about saying gaijin
How do you pronounce gaijin?
Say GHY-jin. The American pronunciation is /ˈɡaɪˌdʒɪn/. In British English it is /ˈɡaɪˌdʒɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in gaijin?
Gaijin has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GHY). Broken into parts: GHY · jin.
Do Americans and Brits say gaijin the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɡaɪˌdʒɪn/ and the British form is /ˈɡaɪˌdʒɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.