otaku

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See also: Otaku and ötaku

English

Etymology

From Japanese オタク (otaku, anime obsessive, geek) originally used in reference to the 1982 Macross fandom, from the honorific form お宅 (otaku, you), from the honorific form (taku, home).

Pronunciation

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia
  • (UK) IPA(key): /əʊˈtɑːkuː/,
  • (US) IPA(key): /oʊˈtɑku/,
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

otaku (plural otakus or otaku)

  1. (fandom slang) One with an obsessive interest in something, particularly (originally derogatory) obsessive Japanese fans of anime or manga.

Usage notes

  • Though the word came to be used in Western countries primarily to denote people who have a strong or obsessive interest in anime and manga, in Japanese it is used more broadly to denote people who are obsessed and interested with or have a heavy interest in any specific topic, theme or hobby. Compared to the term's use in English, when used in Japanese, it more often has derogatory connotations, particularly in its unqualified use.

Hypernyms

Hyponyms

  • weeb (non-Japanese people)

Derived terms

Translations

See also

References

Italian

Italian Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia it

Etymology

First recorded in 1992: from Japanese オタク (otaku, nerd, geek), from お宅 (otaku, honorific for “you”), originally the honorific version of (taku, home).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /oˈta.ku/
  • Rhymes: -aku
  • Hyphenation: o‧tà‧ku

Noun

otaku m or f by sense (invariable)

  1. (fandom slang) otaku (one with an obsessive interest in something such as anime or manga)

Japanese

Romanization

otaku

  1. Rōmaji transcription of おたく
  2. Rōmaji transcription of オタク

Polish

Polish Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia pl

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese オタク.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɔˈta.ku/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -aku
  • Syllabification: o‧ta‧ku

Noun

otaku m pers (indeclinable)

  1. (fandom slang) otaku (person with an obsessive interest in something, particularly obsessive Japanese fans of anime or manga)
    Hyponym: mangowiec

Further reading

  • otaku in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Portuguese

Portuguese Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia pt

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Japanese オタク (otaku, nerd, geek), from お宅 (otaku, honorific for “you”), originally the honorific version of (taku, home).

Pronunciation

  • Hyphenation: o‧ta‧ku

Noun

otaku m or f by sense (plural otakus)

  1. (fandom slang) weeb (one with an interest in something such as anime or manga)

Usage notes

  • Informally one can find a feminine otaka, but it is non-standard.

Spanish

Spanish Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia es

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese オタク (otaku, nerd, geek), from お宅 (otaku, honorific for “you”), originally the honorific version of (taku, home).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /oˈtaku/
  • Rhymes: -aku
  • Syllabification: o‧ta‧ku

Noun

otaku m or f by sense (plural otakus)

  1. (fandom slang) weeb (one with an interest in something such as anime or manga)