How to say "lobster" in Japanese

• えびCommon
  nounThe everyday word covering prawns, shrimp, and sometimes lobster. In ordinary Japanese it typically means shrimp or prawn, so use ロブスター if you specifically mean a lobster. Usually written in kana alone.
  とにかくエビを与あたえよう。↗

  Have some lobster at any rate.
• ロブスター
  nounThe direct word for the lobster animal itself, borrowed from English. Less common than えび but the clearest choice when you want to distinguish a lobster from other shellfish, as on a menu or at a fish market.
  彼かれらはロブスターとステーキのごちそうを食たべた。↗

  They feasted on lobster and steak.
• オマール
  nounA loanword for lobster, chiefly encountered in restaurant and culinary contexts, as in French-style cuisine. Less common; for the living animal or general use, ロブスター is more straightforward.
• オマール海老オマールえび
  nounLobster expressed by combining オマール with 海老, common on menus and in food writing. Less common overall and mainly a culinary term rather than a way to refer to the animal in general conversation.
• 大海老おおえび
  nounGlossed as large shrimp, king prawn, and lobster, but in practice it usually means a large shrimp or prawn. It is seldom the word you want for lobster specifically; ロブスター is more precise.
  その夜よる我々われわれは大おおエビに舌鼓したつづみを打うった。↗

  We banqueted on lobster that night.

Use 「えび」 for shrimp and prawns generally, 「ロブスター」 for the actual lobster animal, and the 「オマール」 terms mainly in cooking contexts; 大海老 usually means large shrimp rather than lobster.

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

• えびprawn
• ロブスターlobster
• オマールlobster
• オマール海老オマールえびlobster
• 大海老おおえびlarge shrimp