Translation guide
Describes a confident, often arrogant way of walking or behaving. Japanese uses different expressions for physical swaggering walk, boastful talk, and overconfident attitude.
To walk in a way that shows off confidence, often with a swaying or strutting motion
Literally 'striding proudly'; used for walking in a confident, sometimes arrogant manner. Often written.
He was swaggering through the town.
Means 'to walk around acting important/bossy'. Common in speech.
He always walks around with a swagger.
Idiomatic: 'walking as if cutting the wind with one's shoulders', implying a proud, swaggering gait.
He was swaggering along, full of himself.
To talk in a boastful, bragging way about oneself
General verb for 'to boast' or 'to brag'. Can be used for swaggering talk.
He's always swaggering about his success.
Literally 'to beat a big mouth'; means to talk big or boast. Casual.
To act bossy or arrogant; often implies swaggering behavior including speech.
A general attitude of arrogance and showing off
Noun/adjective meaning 'arrogance' or 'haughtiness'. Describes a swaggering personality.
I can't stand his swaggering attitude.
Idiom: 'to become a tengu' (a mythical boastful creature); means to get a swelled head, become conceited.
Arrogant, overbearing. Stronger and more formal than 傲慢.
There is no single Japanese word that covers all nuances of 'swagger'. Choose based on whether you mean walking, talking, or attitude. Using スワッガー (suwagā) is not common and would be understood only as a borrowed term in specific contexts like music or fashion.
He often swaggers, but can't actually do anything.
彼は部下の前でいつも威張っている。
He always swaggers in front of his subordinates.
He's swaggering just because of a little success.
彼の横柄な物言いが嫌いだ。
I dislike his swaggering way of talking.