How to say "wool" in Japanese

• ウールJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe loanword for wool as a material, especially in clothing and textiles; this is the word you will see on garment labels and in everyday talk about wool clothes.
  彼かれはウールと綿わたの区別くべつがつかない。↗

  He cannot tell wool from cotton.
• 羊毛ようもうJLPT N2approx.Common
  no-adjectiveWool in the strict sense: the fleece of sheep, thought of as a raw fiber or commodity, as in the wool trade or wool production.
  オーストラリアは多おおくの羊毛ようもうを輸出ゆしゅつしている。↗

  Australia exports a lot of wool.
• 毛けJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounReally 'hair' or 'fur': it covers 'wool' only in the sense of an animal's hair or fleece, and is seldom the word you want for wool as a material.
  飼い猫かいねこの毛けのつやが悪わるくなった。↗

  Our cat's fur has lost its luster.

Use 「ウール」 for wool as a material, especially in clothing and textiles, 羊毛 for sheep's wool as a raw fiber or commodity, and 毛 only when you mean animal hair or fur rather than wool itself.

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

• ウールwool
• 羊毛ようもうwool
• 毛けfur