Since we spent a great deal of time in Japan on a farm with lots of animals, we were curious about the Japanese names for them. Did you know that animals not only have different names, but also make different sounds in Japan?

Here is the list (probably spelled incorrectly—this was just done as we were riding around the farm). The first is the English name (and sound) followed by the phonetic spelling of the Japanese name (and sound). Notice which animals make the same sound in both Japanese and English.

Look for the words with an "*" in Cassidy's word game below. The words are first given in English, with sounds American children say they make in parentheses; then followed by the name and (sound) in Japanese.

Cow (moo)— Ooshi* (mo mo)
Pig (oink)— Buta *( bu bu)
Chicken (cluck or cock--a--doodle--do) —Newatori (ko ke ko ko)
Cat (meow)—Neko* (nea nea)
Dog (bark, woof, bow wow or arf)— Enu* (wan wan)
Horse (neigh)—Uma *(hee hee)
Mouse (squeak)—Nazumi (chew chew)
Owl (hoo hoo)—Fukurou (hoo hoo)
Wolf (ahoooo)—O'o' kami (ahooo)
Goat (baaaaa)—Kami *(meah)
Sheep (baa baa)—Hitsuzi (meah)

Cassidy always makes sure to pick up greetings and courtesies in each language. Here are what we learned in Japan:

Thank you—Aregato
Thank you very much—Domo* aregato*
I mean really, thank you a whole bunch—Domo aregato gozaimas
You are welcome—Do itashi mashi te (emphasis on the e—Toh had us practice by saying "Don't touch my mustach"!)
Excuse me/I'm sorry—Sumimasen*
No—Iie (pronounced eee yay)*
Yes—Hai*
Please—Dozo*
Good morning—Ohayo* gozaimasu*
Good afternoon—Konnichiwa
Good evening—Kombanwa
Good-bye—Sayonara*

Our friend Etsuko taught the girls to say "Shiawase oish ka ta" (and the spelling is REALLY a guess on this phrase) while clutching their hearts and gazing upwards. The translation is roughly "I'm so happy—this was delicious."

Don't forget — these words can be backward, forward, diagonal, horizontal, vertical, and sometimes re-use the same letters.