noun

origami

o-rih-GAH-mee

Origami (noun) means the art of folding paper into decorative shapes without cutting or gluing it. Example: “She taught the kids origami, and by the afternoon the table was covered in paper cranes.”

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noun

The art of folding paper into decorative shapes without cutting or gluing it.

"She taught the kids origami, and by the afternoon the table was covered in paper cranes."

A single piece made using this technique.

"He gave her a delicate origami swan as a gift."

How to use origami

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishPaper folding as an art form, or an object made that way.

Common pairings

origami crane fold origami origami paper

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

origamied past tense, origamis plural, origamis singular

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She taught the kids _____, and by the afternoon the table was covered in paper cranes.

Etymology

From Japanese origami, combining ori ("fold") and kami ("paper").

Origin: Japanese

Rhymes for origami

Ami kami Sami cami mami Rami Tami Yami umami swami Miami salami

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Frequently asked questions

What does “origami” mean?

The word “origami” means the art of folding paper into decorative shapes without cutting or gluing it. In plain terms, paper folding as an art form, or an object made that way.

How do you pronounce “origami”?

“Origami” is pronounced o-rih-GAH-mee (/ˌoɹəˈɡɑmi/ in IPA).

How do you use “origami” in a sentence?

Here is “origami” used in a sentence: “She taught the kids origami, and by the afternoon the table was covered in paper cranes.”

What part of speech is “origami”?

“Origami” is a noun.

Where does the word “origami” come from?

The word “origami” comes from Japanese. From Japanese origami, combining ori ("fold") and kami ("paper").

How many meanings does “origami” have?

“Origami” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the art of folding paper into decorative shapes without cutting or gluing it.

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Words with Japanese origins