Megami
/me̞ɡami/noun
A Japanese word meaning goddess or female deity, also used in English contexts discussing Japanese religion, mythology, and popular culture.
Did you know?In Shinto, a kami can be a deity, ancestral spirit, natural force, or extraordinary presence—so *megami* does not always mean a goddess in the strictly human-like Western sense.
Etymological Timeline
Old Japanese, 8th century
Old Japanese
me
“Woman or female; the feminine element later used in compounds such as *megami*.”
Old Japanese, 8th century
Old Japanese
kami
“A deity, sacred spirit, or supernatural presence.”
Classical Japanese
Japanese
megami
“A compound of *me* “female” and *kami* “deity,” meaning a female deity.”
19th–20th centuries
Modern Japanese
女神 (megami)
“The standard modern Japanese term for a goddess or female divine figure.”
Modern English
English loanword
megami
“A specialized loanword used in English writing about Japanese religion, mythology, anime, manga, and games.”