How to say "giraffe" in Japanese

• きりんCommon
  nounThe ordinary Japanese name for the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), the long-necked African animal; use it whenever you mean the animal itself, for example describing one at a zoo. Usually written in kana alone.
  私は動物園どうぶつえんに行いくまできりんを見みたことがなかった。↗

  I had never seen a giraffe till I visited the zoo.
• ジラフCommon
  nounThe katakana loanword from English "giraffe"; it refers to the same animal as きりん, so for ordinary use きりん is the safer choice and ジラフ is largely optional.

Both words name the giraffe, the long-necked African animal: 「きりん」 is the ordinary Japanese word, while 「ジラフ」 is the English loanword in katakana, so 「きりん」 is what you want in most contexts.

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

• きりんgiraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)
• ジラフgiraffe