Meanings
plural Otamatones
- neologismentertainmentAn electronic musical synthesizer.
[…]long shelves filled with robot parts, circuit boards, audiovisual equipment, and Otamatones—small, tadpole-shaped synthesizers from Japan.
2021 April 20, Gregg Behr, Ryan Rydzewski, When You Wonder, You’re Learning: Mister Rogers’ Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids, Hachette Books, →ISBN2 more examples
Tosa for example performed on his then newest item, the Otamatone.[…]Otamatone is a saxophone-shaped plastic instrument, 27 cm tall, and battery-powered.
2014 March 31, Sarah M. Schlachetzki, Fusing Lab and Gallery: Device Art in Japan and International Nano Art, Transcript Verlag, →ISBN, page 35The humble Otamatone is a cute (or aggressively annoying... to each their own) instrument that makes digital synthesizer-like noises when you tap or slide your finger along the neck.
2018 May 29, Thuy Org, “This Kirby Otamatone is the musical instrument you need”, in The Verge, archived from the original on 29 Mar 2018Synonyms: Kirby flute
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAn electronic musical synthesizer.
Origin
- Japaneseオタマトーン“Otamatone”
- EnglishOtamatone
Borrowed from Japanese オタマトーン (otamatōn, “Otamatone”), from a blend of オタマジャクシ (otamajakushi, “ladle, tadpole”) + トーン (tōn, “tone”).
More words from Japanese
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with Otamatone
Cite this entry
Otamatone. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Otamatone
“Otamatone.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Otamatone. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Otamatone,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Otamatone.
Source: Otamatone on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.