anisong

A1N1I1S1O1N1G2
UK/ˈæn.ɪˌsɒŋ/US/ˈæn.ɪˌsɔŋ/cot caught merger/ˈæn.ɪˌsɑŋ/

noun

An anime song; anime music.

Scrabble 8

Meanings

nounanisong (countable and uncountable, plural anisongs)

plural anisongs

  1. countableslanguncountableanimeAn anime song; anime music.

    I study Japanese. My main study materials are anime and manga. Also, anisong and J-Pop. Then I read Japanese novels. I study.

    2018 October, Ao Jyumonji, translated by Sean McCann, edited by Emily Sorensen, Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash, volume 11, J-Novel Club, page 157
    4 more examples

    Another popular otaku cuisine is "Anisong" bars and karaoke. These bars and karaoke places offer a wide range of anime and manga-related songs and music videos, making them popular spots for otaku to gather and sing along to the songs from their favorite anime and manga series.

    (Can we date this quote?), Claire Austin, Otaku Odyssey: Uncovering the Anime and Manga Subculture in Japan, T Turner, page 22

    Moving on, most, if not all, Japanese animations come with a unique opening (theme) and ending (theme) that belong to this genre called Anisong (short for Animation music/song). Although not actually knowing the lyrics of these songs back then, constantly listening to those catchy tunes caused a continuous growth in the interest I have in the Japanese popular culture.

    2016 November 28, Tai Wei Lim, Merlion And Mt. Fuji: 50 Years Of Singapore-Japan Relations, Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Company, page 220

    “Have no worries on that front,” Juna assured me. “She’s been singing sea shanties while out fishing, so she has a powerful voice, one that’s both feminine and masculine, and if you give her a cool song to sing, she can easily outdo me. I believe she’s a good match for those ‘anisongs’ you taught me, sire.”

    2017 August 3, Dojyomaru, translated by Sean McCann, edited by Emily Sorensen, How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom, volume 3, J-Novel Club, page 20

    A bubbly person like Jun could easily party along with Reina and the girls, and also feel right at home doing a 100 Anisong Marathon with Kai. Kai definitely wasn’t a ‘party’ kind of guy, though! He had no idea what songs were popular. All he could sing were songs from anime.

    2021 January 29, Akamitsu Awamura, translated by Kristine Johnson and airco, edited by Jennifer Sherman, She's the Cutest... But We're Just Friends!, volume 1, J-Novel Club, page 151

Origin

  1. Englishanime song
  2. Japaneseアニソン
  3. Englishanisong

From Japanese アニソン (anison), from アニ(メ) (anime) + ソン(グ) (songu), itself from English anime song. Equivalent to a blend of anime + song.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

anisong. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anisong

MLA

“anisong.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anisong. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “anisong,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anisong.

Source: anisong on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.