Internet
nekomimi
What does nekomimi mean?
A specific and hugely popular type of kemonomimi character sporting cat ears, frequently paired with a tail and catlike verbal tics like ending sentences with 'nya'.
"She wore a nekomimi headband to the con to match her cosplay."
Origin
Japanese 猫耳 (nekomimi), 'cat ears', from neko 'cat' and mimi 'ears'.
Frequently asked questions
What does nekomimi mean?
It means 'cat ears' in Japanese, and refers to a character (or a cosplay accessory) with cat ears, often paired with a tail.
How is nekomimi different from kemonomimi?
Nekomimi is a specific subtype of kemonomimi — kemonomimi covers any animal ears, while nekomimi is specifically cat ears.
Why do nekomimi characters say 'nya'?
'Nya' is the Japanese equivalent of 'meow', added as a catlike verbal tic to reinforce the cat theme.
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