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Top 10 Japanese Internet Slang :So, you want to talk like the natives? It’s one thing to master word usage, pacing, and intonation, but what about the things not taught in textbooks and pronunciation guides? That’s right, we’re talking about slang, and more specifically, slang for use on the internet and social media (or SNS, as the Japanese call it, which stands for “social networking site”).

Today, we’re going to explore internet slang words and phrases to make you sound not only fluent, but cool! And, on top of that, all of these phrases have been stamped and approved by college-aged Japanese people!        

Top 10 Japanese Internet Slang

Just a quick DISCLAIMER: While the terms in this article are current as of the time of writing, popular slang by its very nature is known to fizzle out quickly. Therefore, always understand that slang has a shelf life that will eventually expire. I mean, come on, does anyone still say “Fo’ shizzle, ma nizzle” anymore? 

Japanese Internet Slang –オワコン (That’s so old!)

Taking the above disclaimer into account, a fitting word to start with is owakon, which is a way of saying that something is out-dated. Owakon combines the Japanese word “owatta” (finished) and the English word “contents.” It literally translates to “finished contents,” but it means more along the lines of “Nobody says that anymore,” or “That (video, meme, etc.) is so old!”

A: Ne ne, mina! “Pen Pineapple Apple Pen” tte iu kyoku wa shitte iru? Chou omoshiroi! (Hey, guys! Do you know the song “Pen Pineapple Apple Pen?” It’s so funny!)
B: Owakon. (Dude, that’s so old!)

Japanese Internet Slang – ツイ (Tweet)  

One of the most common social media platforms among young Japanese people is Twitter. The word “tsui” is a shortened form of tsuiito, which means “tweet.” To use it as a verb (to tweet), you add “suru” to the end to form “tsui suru.”

A: Ne ne, kono zou douga wa chou omoshiroi! (Hey, this elephant video is so funny!)
B: Ja, tsui shite! (Tweet it!)  

Japanese Internet Slang – www (LOL)

No, those three Ws aren’t the start of a web address. It’s the Japanese way of saying “LOL.” The way to say it out loud is “kusa” because the Ws look like blades of grass (kusa also means “grass” in Japanese). Recently more and more young Japanese people are using “kusa” in everyday speech, but the more common way of saying “LOL” is “warotta.”

A: Oi, mite! Kono saru wa odotte iru! (Hey, look! This monkey is dancing!)
B: Kusa! (LOL.)

Japanese Internet Slang – ずっ友 (BFFs)

Zuttomo is a combination of the words zutto (forever) and tomodachi (friend).

A: Anata-tachi wa dou yatte shiri ai ni natta no? (How do you know each other?)
B: Zuttomo da! (We’re BFFs!)

Japanese Internet Slang – 激おこプンプン丸 (I’m really frickin angry right now)

Geki-oko-punpun-maru is a pretty long way of saying that you’re really really angry, but young Japanese people find it funny. The kanji for geki means “extremely.” This is followed by oko (a shortened version of okoru [angry]), and then punpun (a Japanese onomatopoeia for being angry), and then maru (the Japanese word for period). So, literally, it means “extremely angry, angry, angry, period!”

A: Ima donna fuu ni okotte iru no? (How angry are you right now?)
B: Geki-oko-punpun-maru! (I’m pissed off like you wouldn’t believe!)

Japanese Internet Slang – mjk (Really?)

Yes, sometimes internet slang uses English letters to abbreviate Japanese words. “Mjk” is short for Maji ka, which is a slang in itself that means, “Really?” It is used to express disbelief in what someone has just said. You could also use it without the question mark to mean, “I didn’t know that.”

A: Ashita densha wa zenbu teisha suru yo. (All of the trains will stop running tomorrow.)
B: mjk (Really…)

A: Ne ne! Ashita Arashi wa gakkou ni kuru tte shitte iru? (Hey! Did you know Arashi is coming to our school tomorrow?)
B: mjk???? (Really?????)

Japanese Internet Slang – ディスる (to diss)

Yup, the Japanese diss on each other too! “Diss” is short for “disrespect,” and to make it a verb, you attach a ru at the end, making it “disuru.”

A: Keito wa debu debu! (Keito is fat!)
B: Oi! Ore no tomodachi wo disuru na! (Hey! Don’t diss on my friend!)

Japanese Internet Slang – アップする (to post something on social media)

Anything from posting something on Instagram to Facebook, the Japanese say appu suru. Appu is the English word “up” written in katakana, but in this case it means “post.” To make it a verb, you attach suru to the end, making it “appu suru.” 

Ato de Instagram de watashi-tachi no shashin wo appu suru.
 (I will post our picture on Instagram later.) 
Facebook de appu shita! (I posted it on Facebook!)

Japanese Internet Slang – 飯テロ (Food Terrorist)

This is a funny expression! You know all of those pictures and videos you see on social media of delicious dishes—cheese dripping off pizza, big juicy hamburgers, those cakes where you cut them in half and chocolate gushes out? Aren’t you jealous of the people eating that right now while you sit at your desk starving to death? 

Food terrorists, you torture us so!!!

The word is “meshitero.” The first kanji “meshi” means “meal” and the second word is “tero,” which is a shortened version of “terrorist.” We hate you, meshitero, for making us hungry when we still have 2 hours left before lunch time. But, then again, what would we do without you?

Japanese Internet Slang – フロリダ (I gotta hop in the shower)

This one is pretty interesting and distinctly Japanese. Furorida is a play on the American state name Florida. It combines the words “furo” (bath) and “ridatsu” (withdrawal). The Japanese are known for their love of soaking in baths at night before going to bed, so this is a legitimate excuse for leaving a text conversation with a friend.

A: Ne ne, kiite! Kyou Hana-chan wa kareshi ni furarete! (Omg! Today, Hana-chan’s boyfriend dumped her!)
B: Matte! Chotto furorida shite kuru ne! (Wait! I’m gonna take a bath, and I’ll be right back!)

Furo can also mean to take a shower as well, so you can still use furorida even if you’re just taking a shower.

Internet slang, like regular slang, is ever-changing and ever-evolving, so now is the time to use these phrases while you still can! Even if you don’t use them, it’s fun to talk to Japanese people about the plethora of internet slang out there. They may not even know some of the phrases above, so you could teach them for a change!

Remember to get out there and practice, practice, practice!

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