How to say "dialect" in Japanese

• 言葉ことばJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounPrimarily 'language' or 'words'; its dialect sense refers loosely to the way people in a place speak, as when noting that speech differs from region to region. Not the specific term for dialect.
  「言葉ことばの一面いちめんは、伝達でんたつしようとする意志いしである」と彼かれは言ゆう。↗

  "One aspect of language is an intent to communicate," he says.
• 方言ほうげんJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe word for dialect as a regional variety of a language; the term used when discussing or classifying dialects, and also for provincial speech. This is usually the word you want for 'dialect' itself.
  いわゆる「標準ひょうじゅん英語えいご」とは世界中せかいじゅうで話はなされている数かず多おおい方言ほうげんのうちの１つにすぎない。↗

  What we call 'Standard English' is only one of the many dialects spoken all over the world.
• 弁べんCommon
  noun (suffix)A region's characteristic speech, stressing accent and sound — a brogue. Familiar and conversational in tone, it suits casual talk about how people from a particular area speak, rather than linguistic discussion.
• なまりCommon
  nounEmphasizes the accent or regional tinge in a person's speech — pronunciation that betrays where they come from. Used of how someone talks, strong or slight, rather than of dialects as varieties.
  トムはいつもジョンの言葉ことばのなまりを理由りゆうにからかう。↗

  Tom always makes fun of John because of his dialect.

Use 方言 for dialect as a regional variety of a language, 弁 or 「なまり」 for a region's speech or accent in everyday talk, and 言葉 only where it simply means a locality's language or way of speaking.

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

• 言葉ことばlanguage
• 方言ほうげんdialect
• 俚言りげんdialect
• 俚語りごdialect
• ダイアレクトdialect
• 訛言かげんnon-standard pronunciation
• 生活語せいかつごprivate-sphere language
• 弁べんdialect
• なまりdialect
• 土語どごdialect