Kigo
/ˈkiːɡoʊ/noun
A Japanese seasonal word or phrase used especially in haiku and other traditional poetry.
Did you know?Traditional Japanese poetry uses kigo as compressed cultural symbols: “cherry blossoms,” for example, can evoke spring, impermanence, and mortality at once.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Chinese
Chinese
季語
“A seasonal term or word associated with a time of year”
Classical Japanese
Japanese
季語（きご）
“A word marking a season in poetic expression”
17th Century
Japanese
kigo
“A recognized seasonal reference in haikai and linked-verse practice”
19th–20th Century
Japanese
kigo
“A codified poetic convention catalogued in saijiki, or seasonal almanacs”
20th Century
English
kigo
“A Japanese seasonal word, especially one used in haiku”
Modern English
English
kigo
“A seasonal word or phrase used in Japanese-style poetry”