How to say "ant" in Japanese

• ありCommon
  nounThe common, neutral word for the insect 'ant'; use it in everyday speech and writing whenever you simply mean an ant, noting that it is usually written in kana alone.
  １匹ひきのキリギリスと多おおくのアリが野原のはらに住すんでいた。↗

  A grasshopper and many ants lived in a field.
• ありんこ
  nounA colloquial, less common variant of あり with a soft, childlike ring; it fits affectionate or childish talk about ants, and is seldom the word you want for neutral description.

Both words mean the insect 'ant': use 「あり」, the common everyday term, in most contexts, and reserve 「ありんこ」 for colloquial, affectionate or child-oriented speech, as it is less common.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• ありant
• ありんこant
• すかりant