SKIP TO CONTENT

otaku

/ˌoʊˈtɑku/
IPA guide

Other forms: otakus

If you've got an eccentric friend who enjoys some unusual hobbies, you may already know an otaku, a person who is obsessed with a very specific subject or with pop culture.

Otaku, mainly used in Japanese, has an unusual origin: It comes from the historically very formal Japanese words meaning "your house." Young people with specialized interests in things like anime, video games, and manga would use this pronoun as a very polite way of addressing and recognizing each other. Outsiders noticed, and the media remarked on it, so it became a general term for these young people.

Definitions of otaku
  1. noun
    (especially in Japan) someone with an intense interest in a subject or hobby, often one that is unusual or very specific
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘otaku'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family