How to say "skipper" in Japanese

• 船長せんちょうCommon
  nounThe general term for the captain of a ship or boat, literally 'ship's chief'. Use it for the person in command of a vessel, such as the skipper of a ferry or fishing boat.
  それで船長せんちょうは彼かれの世話せわをしました。↗

  So the captain took care of him.
• スキッパーCommon
  nounA katakana borrowing of English 'skipper', meaning the same thing: the captain of a ship or boat. Use it when you want the English word's flavor; 船長 is the default.
  その犬いぬをスキッパーと呼よぼう。↗

  Let's call the dog Skipper.

For the nautical sense of 'skipper' — the person who commands a ship or boat — both words apply: 船長 is the Japanese term (literally 'ship's chief'), while 「スキッパー」 is the direct English loanword.

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

• 船長せんちょうship's captain
• スキッパーskipper
• 艇長ていちょうcaptain (of a midget submarine, torpedo boat, etc.)
• スキップskip (captain of a curling team)