How to say "vocalist" in Japanese

• ボーカリストCommon
  nounA loanword and the most direct equivalent of 'vocalist': the singer of a band or similar musical act. Choose it when you want the same nuance as the English word.
• 歌い手うたいてCommon
  nounA native word for a person who sings, covering both 'singer' and 'vocalist'. It does not by itself suggest a band role; for that, the katakana terms are more specific.
  私はカラオケ好すきだが、たいした歌い手うたいてではない。↗

  I love karaoke, but I'm not much of a singer.
• ボーカルCommon
  nounWhen it refers to a person, it means the vocalist of a band, much like ボーカリスト; it can also refer to the vocal part of a song rather than the person.

Use 「ボーカリスト」 or 「ボーカル」 for the singer of a band or similar act, and 「歌い手」 when you simply mean a person who sings; all three can translate 'vocalist'.

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

• ボーカリストvocalist
• 歌い手うたいてsinger
• 声楽家せいがくかvocalist
• 歌うたいうたうたいsinger
• ボーカルvocalist