シマウマ

Built from

Written forms

• シマウマUsage70%
  kana-only spelling

  Katakana spelling is standard; the word is usually written in kana.

• しまうまUsage14%

  Hiragana spelling, also common.

• 縞しま馬うまUsage14%

  Kanji form using 縞 (stripe) and 馬 (horse); rarely used.

• しま馬うまUsage2%
  search-only kanji form

  Search-only mixed kanji-kana form.

• 斑馬しまうま
  rarely-used kanji form

  Rare kanji form using 斑 (spotted); it is rarely used.

Etymology

Compound of 縞 (shima, 'stripe') and 馬 (uma, 'horse'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is transparently descriptive.