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japonais

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Etymology and origin of the French word japonais

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1580 Lettres du Japon of the Jesuits More words from the 16th century
Ultimate origin
French Japon,-ais
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French japonais
Romanian japonez

Pronunciation

  • /ʒa.pɔ.nɛ/[1]

Forms

japonais (feminine japonaise, masculine plural japonais, feminine plural japonaises)[1] Noun: japonais m (uncountable), the language.[1] Early spelling iapponois, 1580.[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from French Japon + -ais.[2][1][3] It first appears in 1580, in letters sent from Japan by the priests of the Society of Jesus.[2][3] Other dates are given: the Grand Robert has 1589 for the modern form, and the GLLF dates the adjective to 1667 (Robinet).[3][4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

In 1580 it is used both of the people of Japan, in seigneurs Iapponois, and of their language.[2]

Semantic evolution

Besides “of Japan”, the adjective came to mean showing traits typical of Japan, as in Courteline's préciosité japonaise (1885); the GLLF dates the sense “imitating Japanese manners” to the early 20th century.[2][4] The noun le japonais for the language is recorded in 1859 (Banville).[2] The familiar clipping jap dates from 1947.[6]

Timeline

  • 1580 – Iapponois in the Jesuits' letters from Japan.[2]
  • 1667 – Robinet uses japonais.[4]
  • 1859 – Le japonais, the language, in Banville.[2]
  • 1947 – The familiar clipping jap.[6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Japanese, of Japan or its people: une voiture japonaise.[6][2][1]
  2. Characteristic of Japan and its traditions;[6][2] jardin japonais, a miniature garden in a dish.[6][2]

Noun

  1. Le japonais: the Japanese language.[6][2][1]
  • Japonais
  • Japon

Usage notes

A person from Japan is un Japonais, une Japonaise, with a capital.[6][1] The familiar jap is short for the adjective and noun.[2][6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
Cite this entry

“Japonais.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/japonais. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·