noun
Refers to languages originating from the West, such as English, French, or German. Often used in contrast to Japanese or other Asian languages.
彼は洋語の習得に熱心だ。
He is enthusiastic about learning Western languages.
noun
Japanese word of Western origin; loanword from a Western language
Specifically denotes a Japanese word that was borrowed from a Western language, such as パン (from Portuguese) or コンピューター (from English).
「アルバイト」はドイツ語由来の洋語だ。
"Arubaito" is a Japanese word of Western origin, derived from German.
Compound of 洋 (yō, 'Western') and 語 (go, 'language, word'). The term is used in linguistic contexts to distinguish Western languages and loanwords from those of Chinese or other origins.