How to say "word" in Japanese

• 語ごJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix), counterA word or term as a unit of language. It also covers 'term' in the sense of a technical or field-specific expression, and is a natural choice when discussing language itself.
  ２００語ご以内いないでその文章ぶんしょうを要約ようやくしてください。↗

  Sum up the passage within 200 words.
• ワードCommon
  nounThe katakana loanword for 'word'. For ordinary senses of 'word' the native terms are usually more natural; this one tends to surface in technical or borrowed contexts.
  今度こんどの秘書ひしょは１分間ふんかんに７０ワードもタイプが打うてる。↗

  The new secretary types about 70 words per minute.
• 単語たんごJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe everyday word for a single word as a unit of language; also 'vocabulary'. This is the natural choice when talking about learning words, looking a word up, or asking what a word means.
  これらの単語たんごを一ひとつずつ覚おぼえなさい。↗

  Learn these words, one by one.
• 知らせしらせJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounNot a linguistic 'word': this is 'word' as news or tidings — receiving word that someone has arrived, for instance. It never refers to words as units of language.
  その悪わるい知しらせは残念ざんねんながら本当ほんとうだ。↗

  The bad news is unfortunately true.
• 言げんCommon
  nounA formal, written-style word for a word, remark, or statement; it appears chiefly in set expressions, so it is seldom the word you want for everyday 'word'.
  彼かれの言げんに従したがって行動こうどうするのは利口りこうではない。↗

  It is not wise to go by his word.

For a word as a unit of language choose 単語 (a single word, vocabulary) or 語 (also 'term'); 「ワード」 is the loanword, mostly technical; 「知らせ」 is 'word' as news; 言 is formal and mostly written.

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

• 語ごword
• ワードword
• 単語たんごword
• 知らせしらせnews
• 言げんword
• 伝言でんごん(verbal) message
• ワードWord (Microsoft program)
• 伝言つてこと(verbal) message
• 言の葉ことのはword
• 音沙汰おとさたnews (from someone)
• 言葉ことばword
• 訪れおとずれnews