How to say "head" in Japanese

• 頭あたまJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe head as a part of the body: headaches, hair, injuries, nodding. When 'head' names the physical thing on your shoulders, this is the word to reach for.
• いくJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb (irregular), intransitive verbThe verb: 'head' meaning to move toward a destination ('head home', 'head north'). Japanese says this with its verb 'go', so translate such sentences simply as 'go'.
  お母かあさん、泳およぎに行いってもいい？↗

  Can I go swimming, Mother?
• 主ぬしCommon
  nounPronounced ぬし, this covers the head of a household and the like, with the added sense of 'leader' or 'master' — the person who presides over a group or place.
• 主あるじCommon
  nounPronounced あるじ, this is the head of a household, the proprietor (or proprietress) of a store, or a landlord — the person who owns the place and stands at its head.
  この家いえのあるじは私だ。↗

  It is I who am head of this family.
• 主人しゅじんJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounThe head of a household; it also covers the proprietor of a store or a landlord, and in family contexts it serves as a wife's word for 'my husband'.

For the body part choose 頭; for the verb 'head towards' choose 「いく」; for a person — head of a household, leader, or proprietor — choose among 主（ぬし）, 主（あるじ）, and 主人（しゅじん）, which overlap but differ in nuance and use.

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

• 頭あたまhead
• いくto go
• 主ぬしhead (of a household, etc.)
• 主あるじhead (of a household)
• 主人しゅじんhead (of a household)
• ヘッドhead
• ボスboss
• キャップleader
• 先頭せんとうhead (of a line, group, etc.)
• 首脳しゅのうhead
• 頭部とうぶhead
• 所長しょちょうhead (of an office, laboratory, etc.)
• 頭脳ずのうhead
• 首長しゅちょうhead (of organization, organisation)
• 主席しゅせきhead
• 首領しゅりょうhead
• 穂ほear (of a cereal plant)
• チーフchief
• 署長しょちょうchief (of police)
• 落差らくさdifference in elevation (between two points in a body of water)
• 首班しゅはんhead
• 長ちょうhead
• 親玉おやだまboss
• 泡あわbubble
• 親分おやぶんboss
• 主任しゅにんperson in charge
• 船首せんしゅbow (of a boat)
• どたまhead
• こうべhead
• 頭ずhead
• かぶりhead
• 頭つむりhead
• 頭つむhead
• 首かしらhead (of a doll)
• 小首こくびhead
• 頭領とうりょうhead
• おつむhead
• 結球けっきゅうhead (of cabbage, lettuce, etc.)
• 雁首がんくびhead (of a Japanese pipe, i.e. the bowl and shank)
• 素首そくびhead
• 主長しゅちょうhead
• 首脳者しゅのうしゃhead
• そっ首そっくびhead
• 主任教授しゅにんきょうじゅhead (of a university department)
• 長おさhead
• 頭目とうもくchief
• お頭おかしらleader
• 一頭いっとうone large animal (horses, cattle, etc.)
• 頭株あたまかぶchief
• たてcentral
• 首座しゅざseat of honor
• 主任者しゅにんしゃperson in charge
• おやびんboss
• 先さきhead (of a line)
• 本ほんmain
• くびhead
• 大将たいしょうhead
• 主しゅleader (of a country, group, etc.)
• マスターleader
• 筆頭ひっとうhead
• 前まえ(the) front
• 上うえtop
• 天窓てんまどhead
• 主人公しゅじんこうhead (of a household)
• 棟梁とうりょうchief
• 官つかさchief
• 主要部しゅようぶhead (of a phrase)
• 髪頭かみかしらhead
• 上かみhead (of a table)