OED Japanese word additions 2025: 11 New Entries Shape English Lexicon
The Oxford English Dictionary added 11 Japanese words like mottainai and ekiden in December 2025. Discover how Japanese culture is permanently reshaping the English language.
Your vocabulary just got a cultural upgrade. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the definitive record of the English language, officially added 11 Japanese-derived words in its December 2025 update. These entries aren't just loanwords; they represent the growing reach of Japanese philosophy, sports, and entertainment across the English-speaking world.
Exploring the OED Japanese word additions 2025
The new batch of words includes terms that have gained significant traction in recent years. Key additions feature mottainai (a sense of regret over waste), ekiden (a long-distance relay race), and yokai (supernatural entities from Japanese folklore). The inclusion of 'ekiden' follows its rising popularity in the West, notably highlighted by the UK’s second ekiden relay held in June 2025 in London.
Linguists note that these additions reflect a broader trend where specific cultural concepts fill gaps in the English language. For instance, while English has words for 'wasteful', it lacks a single term that captures the emotional and spiritual depth of 'mottainai'. This linguistic integration is bolstered by Japan's continued dominance in media, from the legacy of Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball to the record-breaking success of modern anime like Demon Slayer.
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