name Uncommon

Kobe

KOH-bee

Kobe (name) means a major port city in Japan, capital of Hyōgo Prefecture, famous for its beef and its harbour. Example: “They flew into Kobe before touring the surrounding mountains.”

name

A major port city in Japan, capital of Hyōgo Prefecture, famous for its beef and its harbour.

"They flew into Kobe before touring the surrounding mountains."

"Kobe beef is prized around the world for its marbling."

intj

Shouted while throwing something toward a bin or target, jokingly comparing the throw to a basketball shot by Kobe Bryant.

"He crumpled the paper, yelled "Kobe!", and sank it in the bin."

"Every time someone shoots a free throw at the gym, somebody shouts "Kobe!""

How to use Kobe

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the Japanese city known for its beef, or a playful shout when tossing something at a target.

When to use it

The interjection use is informal internet/youth slang.

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They flew into _____ before touring the surrounding mountains.

Etymology

The city name comes from Japanese 神戸 (Kōbe); the interjection is a tribute to basketball star Kobe Bryant.

Origin: Japanese

Rhymes for Kobe

OBE lobe robe jobe tobe globe probe Niobe strobe microbe disrobe wardrobe

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Kobe” mean?

The word “Kobe” means a major port city in Japan, capital of Hyōgo Prefecture, famous for its beef and its harbour. In plain terms, either the Japanese city known for its beef, or a playful shout when tossing something at a target.

How do you pronounce “Kobe”?

“Kobe” is pronounced KOH-bee (/ˈkoʊˌbi/ in IPA).

How do you use “Kobe” in a sentence?

Here is “Kobe” used in a sentence: “They flew into Kobe before touring the surrounding mountains.”

What part of speech is “Kobe”?

Depending on how it is used, “Kobe” can be a name and an intj.

Where does the word “Kobe” come from?

The word “Kobe” comes from Japanese. The city name comes from Japanese 神戸 (Kōbe); the interjection is a tribute to basketball star Kobe Bryant.

Is “Kobe” a common word?

“Kobe” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Kobe” have?

“Kobe” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a major port city in Japan, capital of Hyōgo Prefecture, famous for its beef and its harbour.

Why do people shout "Kobe" when throwing something into a bin?

People shout "Kobe" when tossing an object toward a bin or target as a playful reference to basketball star Kobe Bryant, jokingly comparing the throw to one of his shots.

Is Kobe beef named after the city of Kobe?

Yes, Kobe beef takes its name from Kobe, the Japanese port city famous for producing it.

What is the difference between "Kobe" the city and "Kobe" the exclamation?

"Kobe" the city is a major port in Japan's Hyōgo Prefecture, famous for its beef and harbour, while "Kobe" the exclamation is unrelated slang shouted for fun when throwing something toward a target, referencing basketball player Kobe Bryant rather than the city.

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Vocabulary lists that include Kobe:

Words with Japanese origins Words that start with K