How to say "devil" in Japanese

• 悪魔あくまJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe central word for 'devil': the Devil himself (Satan) and demons generally, in religion, myth and fiction. With no special nuance intended, this is the word to reach for.
  悪魔あくまは岩いわの間あいだに隠かくれている。↗

  Devils are hiding among the rocks.
• 魔まCommon
  nounA literary word for an evil spirit or evil influence; for an actual devil or demon it is seldom the word you want, appearing mostly as a component of other words.
• 魔物まものCommon
  nounPresents the devil as a creature: a monstrous demon or evil spirit of the kind met in folk tales and fantasy, closer to 'monster' than to the theological Devil.

Choose 悪魔 for the Devil or demons in the ordinary religious and fictional sense, 魔 for the literary idea of an evil spirit or evil influence, and 魔物 when the devil is imagined as a monstrous creature.

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

• 悪魔あくまdevil
• 魔まdemon
• 魔物まものdemon
• デビルdevil
• 魔神まじんdevil
• 邪鬼じゃきdevil
• 悪鬼あっきevil spirit
• 憑き物つきものevil spirit (that possesses someone)
• 極悪人ごくあくにんutter villain
• 極重悪人ごくじゅうあくにんutter villain
• ルシフェルdevil
• ルシファーdevil
• 外道げどうdemon