How to say "coral" in Japanese

• さんごCommon
  nounCoral as a thing: the sea animal and its pink or red skeleton, used in jewelry. This is the common word for coral, and it is usually written in kana alone.
• コーラル
  nounA katakana loanword for coral, less common than さんご. Since さんご is the common word for the same thing, コーラル is seldom the word you need.
• 珊瑚色さんごいろ
  nounThe color, not the creature: coral as a light red. Use it when you mean the shade; for the sea animal or its skeleton, さんご is the word.

Use 「さんご」, the common word, for coral the sea creature or its skeleton; 「コーラル」 is a less common loanword that also means coral; 珊瑚色 is the color word, a light red.

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

• さんごcoral
• コーラルcoral
• 珊瑚色さんごいろcoral (color)