All
0// ANIME GLOSSARY
All things Anime in words.
Watch enough anime and the lingo starts flying fast. This glossary decodes the vocab that fuels the fandom.
A
1AMV
Anime Music Video; fan-edited anime set to music.
B
4Baka
Japanese word for 'idiot'; often used humorously.
Bakemono
Monster or supernatural creature.
Bishoujo
Beautiful or pretty girl.
Bishounen
Beautiful or pretty boy.
C
2Canon
Official storyline recognized by the original creator.
Chibi
Small, super-deformed version of a character.
D
2Dandere
A character who is quiet and shy but opens up over time.
Desu
Polite sentence-ending particle in Japanese, often overused by fans.
E
2Ecchi
Mild sexual content, suggestive but not explicit.
ED
Ending theme of an anime.
F
1Filler
Non-canon episodes that are not part of the main story.
H
3Henshin
Transformation, especially into a superhero or magical form.
Hentai
Explicit adult anime or manga.
Husbando
A fictional male character that someone has great affection for.
I
1Isekai
Genre where characters are transported to another world.
J
1Josei
Anime aimed at adult women; realistic romance and drama.
K
6Kaiju
Giant monsters like Godzilla.
Kawaii
Cute or adorable.
Kemonomimi
Characters with animal ears/tails but human body.
Kouhai
A junior or underclassman, opposite of senpai.
Kouhai-kun
Affectionate or familiar way to refer to a junior.
Kuudere
A character who is calm and emotionless but soft inside.
M
1Moe
Adorable, lovable character who invokes protective feelings.
N
2Nakama
Close friends or comrades, like family.
Nani?!
Means 'What?!'; used in shocked reactions.
O
8Omae
You; informal or rude depending on tone.
Onee-chan
Big sister; affectionate or honorific term.
Onii-chan
Big brother; affectionate or honorific term.
OP
Opening theme of an anime.
Oppai
Slang for breasts.
Otaku
A person obsessed with anime/manga or Japanese culture.
Otome
Maiden; often refers to romance games aimed at women.
OVA
Original Video Animation; released directly to video.
S
6Seinen
Anime aimed at adult men; mature themes.
Seme
Dominant partner in a yaoi relationship.
Senpai
An upperclassman or someone of higher status, often admired.
Shojo
Anime targeted at young girls; often romantic or dramatic.
Shonen
Anime targeted at young boys; action-packed with male leads.
Sugoi
Amazing or awesome.
T
2Tokusatsu
Live-action shows with special effects, often superhero-related.
Tsundere
A character who is initially cold or hostile but becomes affectionate.
U
1Uke
Submissive partner in a yaoi relationship.
W
2Waifu
A fictional female character that someone has great affection for.
Weeb
A non-Japanese person overly obsessed with Japanese culture/anime.
Y
3Yandere
A character who is obsessive and often violent in love.
Yaoi
Boy's love; romantic or sexual content between male characters.
Yuri
Girl's love; romantic or sexual content between female characters.
Z
1Zettai Ryouiki
Gap between skirt and thigh-highs; seen as attractive.