How to say "speaker" in Japanese

• スピーカーJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe default loanword for someone who speaks at an event or conference; it is also the usual word for a loudspeaker device. Safe choice when translating 'speaker' about an event programme.
  おかしいな、スピーカーがガーガーいってるよ。↗

  That's funny. The speaker is crackling.
• 講師こうしJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounCovers the sense of a speaker in the sense of a lecturer or instructor invited to give a talk or course, often at a seminar or workshop. It stresses the teaching role rather than just delivering a speech.
  講師こうしは本題ほんだいから脱線だっせんしてしまった。↗

  The speaker wandered away from the subject.
• 演者えんじゃCommon
  nounRefers to the presenter or performer of a talk, lecture, or show, emphasizing the person on stage. Typical in announcements or programmes for conferences and performances.
• 発表者はっぴょうしゃCommon
  nounThe person who gives a presentation or makes an announcement; also glossed as publisher. Best when the 'speaker' is presenting research or results to an audience.
• 議長ぎちょうJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounOnly the political or parliamentary sense: the speaker or chairperson who presides over an assembly. For this narrow sense it is the right word, but it is not used for speakers at ordinary events.
  私わたしたちはウッド氏しを議長ぎちょうに任命にんめいした。↗

  We appointed Mr Wood chairman.

Use 「スピーカー」 for a person talking at an event or a loudspeaker, 講師 for a lecturer, 演者・発表者 for presenters, and 議長 only for the speaker of an assembly.

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

• スピーカーspeaker
• 講師こうしspeaker
• 演者えんじゃpresenter
• 発表者はっぴょうしゃannouncer
• 議長ぎちょうchair
• 話者わしゃspeaker
• 話し手はなしてspeaker
• 弁者べんしゃspeaker
• 発言者はつげんしゃspeaker
• 演説家えんぜつかspeaker
• 演説者えんぜつしゃspeaker
• 発話者はつわしゃspeaker
• 代弁者だいべんしゃspokesperson
• 報告者ほうこくしゃreporter
• 講演者こうえんしゃlecturer
• 登壇者とうだんしゃpresenter (e.g. of a paper)
• 表現者ひょうげんしゃperson who expresses themselves (through speech, art, etc.)