yakuza

ya·ku·za

Y y

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [yah-koo-zah]
- /ˈyɑ kʊˌzɑ/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [yah-koo-zah]
- /ˈyɑ kʊˌzɑ/

Definitions of yakuza word

noun plural yakuza any of various tightly knit Japanese criminal organizations having a ritualistic, strict code of honor. 1
noun plural yakuza such organizations collectively. 1
noun plural yakuza a member of such an organization; gangster. 1
noun yakuza A Japanese gangster or racketeer. 1
noun yakuza a member of this organization 0
noun yakuza a Japanese gangster 0

See all 9 definitions of yakuza

Information block about the term

Origin of yakuza

First appearance:

before 1960

One of the 3% newest English words

1960-65; < Japanese: racketeer, gambler, good-for-nothing, useless, from the name of a game in which the worst hand is of three cards marked ya eight, ku nine (< Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese jiǒu), and -za three (combining form of sa(n) < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese sān)

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Yakuza

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Yakuza

yakuza popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 68% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".