How to say "toss" in Japanese

• トスCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers the sports sense of 'toss', the act of tossing a ball upward, as in volleyball or a coin toss. It is a noun rather than a verb, so use it for the toss itself.
• 投げるなげるJLPT N4approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbThe everyday verb for throwing; 'toss' appears among its glosses, so it can cover lightly throwing something to someone. Its core meaning is simply 'to throw', which is usually what you want.
  その子こは犬いぬに石いしを投なげた。↗

  That child threw a stone at the dog.
• 放るほうるJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbAlso glossed as 'to toss', alongside throw, fling, and hurl, but it suggests flinging something carelessly. For most 'toss' uses 投げる is the safer choice; reach for 放る when a careless fling is meant.
  いい球たまを放ほうるようになったな、恵一けいいち君くん。↗

  You throw a good ball nowadays, Keiichi.

Use 「トス」 for the sports term for tossing a ball, 「投げる」 as the general verb for throwing something, and 「放る」 when throwing is careless or casual.

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

• トスtoss (of a ball)
• 投げるなげるto throw
• 放るほうるto throw
• 和えるあえるto dress (e.g. a salad)
• 放り投げるほうりなげるto throw
• 振り立てるふりたてるto toss (i.e. one's head)
• ほっぽるto fling
• 放り出すほうりだすto drop