otaku
Otaku (noun) means someone with an intense, all-consuming interest in a hobby or subject, especially a devoted fan of Japanese anime or manga. Example: “He's a total otaku — his apartment is wall-to-wall anime figures and manga volumes.”
How to use otaku
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA hardcore, dedicated fan — usually of anime or manga, though the word has spread to describe obsessive fans of other niche hobbies too.
In Japan the word can still carry a slightly negative, "socially awkward shut-in" undertone, whereas in English it's mostly used neutrally or even as a badge of honor among fans.
Word forms
- Plural
- otakus
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He's a total _____ — his apartment is wall-to-wall anime figures and manga volumes.
Etymology
From Japanese オタク (otaku), which grew out of お宅 (otaku), a formal way of saying "your home" or "you." Fans in the early-1980s Macross anime fandom used it to address each other, and outsiders picked it up as a label — originally a bit of an insult, later reclaimed with pride by fans themselves.
Rhymes for otaku
See all rhymes for otaku →Frequently asked questions
What does “otaku” mean?
How do you pronounce “otaku”?
How do you use “otaku” in a sentence?
What part of speech is “otaku”?
Where does the word “otaku” come from?
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include otaku:
