おっぱい

Japanese

Etymology

Generally agreed upon as originating from baby talk.[1][2][3][4]

Derivation unclear. Possibilities include:

/wo wo umai/ → /o o umai/ → /oːmai/ → /opːai/
While suggestive, the phonetic changes required seem unlikely. Moreover, the pitch accent differs, in that うまい (umai) has a high pitch on the ma followed by a downstep, while おっぱい (oppai) has a high pitch on the initial o followed by a downstep.
  • A shift from 一杯 (ippai, “one serving, one cupful; full”),[4] as something a baby might say when done breastfeeding, or when asking to do so.
/ipːai/ → /opːai/
This seems more likely, as the phonetics align better: only one vowel changes, and the pitch accent in ippai is similar with a high pitch on the initial i followed by a downstep.

Pronunciation

Noun

おっぱい or オッパイ • (oppai) 

  1. (childish) milk, breastmilk (liquid)
    Synonyms: 乳 (chi, chichi), (adult word for breastmilk) 母乳 (bonyū)
    おっぱいが出(で)るようになる
    oppai ga deru yō ni naru
    to become able to produce milk
  2. (anatomy, childish) boobies, titties (breasts)
    Synonyms: パイオツ (paiotsu), 乳 (chi, chichi), 乳袋 (chibukuro), 乳房 (chibusa), (more general meaning of chest) 胸 (mune)

Derived terms

Descendants

References
  1. 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
  2. 1995, 大辞泉 (Daijisen) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
  3. 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  4. 1997, 新明解国語辞典 (Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten), Fifth Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  5. 1998, NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 (NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: NHK, →ISBN

Further reading
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