How to say "helix" in Japanese

• 螺旋らせんCommon
  nounThe common word for a spiral or helix shape and the default choice in most writing; start here unless a specific sense or the loanword itself is what you need.
• ヘリックス
  nounThe katakana loanword for helix, less common than 螺旋; use it when you want the English-style term itself, and otherwise default to 螺旋 for the shape.
• 螺線らせん
  nounA less common word for the helix, read らせん just like 螺旋 and close to it in sense; unless you have a particular reason to choose it, 螺旋 is the default.
• 耳環みみわ
  no-adjectiveReally a word for a non-pierced earring; its link to 'helix' lies in ear jewelry, so for the spiral shape or curve it is not the word you want at all.
• 螺旋体らせんたい
  nounThis less common word, built on 体 'body', suggests a helical body or structure and also covers 'helicoid'; for the plain spiral shape, 螺旋 is the default.

Use 螺旋, the common word, for the spiral or helix shape; 「ヘリックス」 is the loanword and 螺線 a less common synonym; 耳環 is ear jewelry, while 螺旋体 points to a helical body or structure.

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

• 螺旋らせんspiral
• ヘリックスhelix
• 螺線らせんhelix
• 耳環みみわearring (non-pierced)
• 螺旋体らせんたいspiral