Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

オウムガイ (おうむがい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

オウムガイ

お

う

む

が

い

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

noun

chambered nautilus

usually written using kana alone

Refers to the marine mollusk Nautilus pompilius and related species, known for its spiral shell with chambers.

水すい族ぞく館かんで生いきたオウムガイを見みた。
I saw a live chambered nautilus at the aquarium.
オウムガイの殻からは美うつくしい螺ら旋

せん

を

描えが

い

て

いる

。

The shell of the chambered nautilus forms a beautiful spiral.

Written forms

オウムガイ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is the most common written form; usually written in kana.
鸚おう鵡む貝がい
Kanji spelling is rare and mainly used in scientific or formal contexts; the word is usually written in kana.

Kanji

鸚parrot, parakeet
鵡cockatoo
貝shellfish

Similar words

アンモナイト
Ammonites are extinct cephalopods with similar spiral shells, while オウムガイ refers to the living nautilus.

Etymology

The name オウムガイ (鸚鵡貝) literally means 'parrot shell', from 鸚鵡 (parrot) and 貝 (shell), referring to the shell's resemblance to a parrot's beak.