Japanese Word · Native
いただきます
thank you for the meal
Pronunciation: itadakimasu
Meaning
A cultural formula said before eating to acknowledge the food and those who prepared it.
Example
みんなが座ってから、いただきますと言いました。
After everyone sat down, we said thanks for the meal.
Practice tips
- Practice いただきます out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this Japanese word is for native-level learners.