How to say "baptism" in Japanese

• 洗礼せんれいCommon
  nounThe common word for baptism, covering the sacrament or rite itself and a christening; when you need to say 'baptism' without further context, this is the word to reach for.
  彼かれは洗礼せんれいを受うけてカトリック教きょう徒ととなった。↗

  He was baptized a Catholic.
• バプテスマ
  nounA katakana loanword for baptism, used mainly in church contexts and Christian writing; less common than 洗礼, it denotes the rite itself rather than serving as a general-purpose word.
  聖霊せいれいがある方かたの上うえに下くだって、その上うえにとどまられるのが見みえたなら、その方かたこそ聖霊せいれいによってバプテスマを授さずける方かたである。↗

  The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
• バプティズム
  nounA less common loanword for baptism, found mainly in theological or church writing; for the rite or the ceremony itself this is seldom the word you want — 洗礼 or バプテスマ is the safer choice.
• 洗礼式せんれいしき
  nounRefers specifically to the baptismal ceremony — the service or event at which baptism is performed; use it for the occasion itself, and note it is less common than 洗礼.

Use 洗礼 for baptism in general, 洗礼式 for the ceremony itself, and 「バプテスマ」 or 「バプティズム」 as church and theological loanwords, both less common than 洗礼.

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

• 洗礼せんれいbaptism
• バプテスマbaptism
• バプティズムbaptism
• 洗礼式せんれいしきbaptismal ceremony