senpai
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
An upperclassman or elder student, in the context of Japan.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “senpai” mean?
An upperclassman or elder student, in the context of Japan.
Is “senpai” formal or informal?
senpai is generally slang.