How to pronounce otaku
Say it like oh-TAH-koo. Otaku has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAH).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce otaku. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/oʊˈtɑku/oh-TAH-koo
UK British/əʊˈtɑːkuː/oh-TAH-koo
- oh
- TAH
- koo
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Otaku pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- TAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- kooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of otaku
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: oh-TAH-koo.
What does otaku mean?
noun
- One with an obsessive interest in something, particularly (originally derogatory) an obsessive Japanese fan of anime or manga.
Questions about saying otaku
How do you pronounce otaku?
Say oh-TAH-koo. The American pronunciation is /oʊˈtɑku/. In British English it is /əʊˈtɑːkuː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in otaku?
Otaku has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAH). Broken into parts: oh · TAH · koo.
Is otaku pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /əʊˈtɑːkuː/ (oh-TAH-koo).