タバコ Tobacco

Meaning

Primary

Tobacco

Alternative

Cigarette

Word Type

noun

Explanation

タバコ is the Japanese version of the Portuguese word "tabaco." You probably won’t be shocked to learn that タバコ means tobacco or cigarette in English!

Watch out for the first syllable, which is タ and not ト. タバコ can also be written in hiragana, and even in kanji, but katakana is the most common by far.

Pronunciation

タバコ

Context

Common Word Combinations

• 〜タバコ

  歩きタバコ

  smoking while walking

  電子タバコ

  an electronic cigarette

  パイプタバコ

  pipe tobacco

• タバコの〜

  タバコのにおい

  the smell of cigarettes

  タバコの火

  cigarette lighter

  タバコの先

  the tip of a cigarette

• タバコを〜

  タバコを買う

  to buy cigarettes

  タバコをふかす

  to smoke a cigarette

  タバコをやめる

  to quit smoking

Context Sentences

あ、タバコのにおいがする。

Oh, I can smell cigarette smoke.

タバコが中々やめられないんだ。

I've been struggling to quit smoking.

歩きタバコはよくないよ。

It's not good to smoke while walking.