How to say "ebony" in Japanese

• エボニー
  nounThe katakana loanword for ebony as a wood or material — the dense black timber used for furniture, instrument parts and the like; it names the substance, not the color.
• 黒檀こくたん
  nounThe kanji name for the ebony tree and its wood; use it when speaking of the actual tree or timber, for example in describing carvings, furniture or other dark wooden objects.
• 烏木うぼく
  nounA rare name for the same ebony wood as 黒檀; unless you have a particular reason for it, it is seldom the word you want — 黒檀 or エボニー is the safer choice.
• エボニー色エボニーいろ
  nounThe color term: a very deep, lustrous black named after the wood. Use it when describing something as ebony-colored, such as hair or clothing, not when talking about the wood itself.

For the wood or the tree, choose between the kanji 黒檀 and the loanword 「エボニー」; 烏木 is a rare synonym you will seldom need, and 「エボニー色」 is only for the deep black color.

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

• エボニーebony
• 黒檀こくたんebony
• 烏木うぼくebony
• エボニー色エボニーいろebony (color)