How to say "ninja" in Japanese

• 忍者にんじゃCommon
  nounThe common word for a ninja: a person trained in ninjutsu and employed for covert purposes in feudal Japan. This historical term is the one you want in most contexts.
  忍者にんじゃごっこをしよう。↗

  Let's make believe we're ninjas.
• 忍びの者しのびのもの
  nounA less common synonym of 忍者, literally 'a person of stealth'; it refers to the same covert agents of feudal Japan. Use it when you want a different wording from 忍者.
• 軒猿のきざる
  nounA less common term for a ninja — literally 'eaves monkey' — used especially of those serving the Uesugi clan during the Sengoku period. For ninjas in general it is seldom the word you want.

忍者 is the common word for a ninja of feudal Japan; 「忍びの者」 is a less common synonym, and 軒猿 is a less common term for ninjas, especially those serving the Uesugi clan during the Sengoku period.

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

• 忍者にんじゃninja
• 忍びの者しのびのものninja
• 軒猿のきざるninja (esp. those serving the Uesugi clan during the Sengoku period)
• 忍びしのびninja