How to say "glacier" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 氷河ひょうがnounThe common word for a glacier, a large mass of ice moving slowly down a mountain or across land. This is the term you will normally want in geography, news reports and general explanation.
- nounA katakana loanword with the same meaning. It is less common than 氷河, and for most purposes 氷河 is the word you want; グレーシャー is understandable but seldom the necessary choice.
Both words mean a slowly moving mass of ice: 氷河 is the common default term, while 「グレーシャー」 is a less common loanword for the same thing, seldom necessary because 氷河 covers the meaning.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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