Electronics

1. スマホ

   Su-ma-ho

   Smartphone

   Usage

   Borrowed straight from Japanese; there is no native Okinawan word, and Okinawan speakers use this form. For a telephone in general, see "denwa"

2. じゅうでんき

   Juu-den-ki

   Charger

   Usage

   Spelled as in the Basic Nouns category. Show it when you want to borrow one at your lodging

3. モバイルバッテリー

   Mo-ba-i-ru-bat-te-rii

   Power bank

   Usage

   Worth carrying, since typhoons cut the power — and useful on day trips to the small islands

4. コンセント

   Kon-sen-to

   Power outlet

   Usage

   Okinawa uses the same 100V supply and flat two-pin plugs as mainland Japan, at 60Hz — Japanese devices just work

5. でんき

   Den-ki

   Electricity / the light

   Usage

   Covers both the power supply and the room light. "Denki chikiti" means "turn the light on"

6. でんち

   Den-chi

   Battery

   Usage

   Dry cells. Shops that stock them are scarce on the small islands, so buy on the main island

7. ワイファイ

   Wa-i-fa-i

   Wi-Fi

   Usage

   Okinawan has the "fa" sound natively, so this spelling sits comfortably in its phonology. Signal can be weak on the small islands

8. カメラ

   Ka-me-ra

   Camera

   Usage

   The camera. Sea spray and sand are hard on it, so a waterproof case helps at the beach

9. かいちゅーでんとー

   Ka-i-chuu-den-too

   Flashlight

   Usage

   Roads in Yanbaru and on the small islands go pitch dark at night. Light your footing — it also helps you avoid habu snakes

10. クーラー

    Kuu-raa

    Air conditioning

    Usage

    In Okinawa people more often say "kuuraa" than "eakon" for air conditioning. Indispensable in summer

11. せんぷーき

    Sen-puu-ki

    Electric fan

    Usage

    The fan. Some rooms in minshuku and old-house lodgings have nothing more

12. リモコン

    Ri-mo-kon

    Remote control

    Usage

    For the air conditioner or TV — show it at the front desk when you cannot find one

13. れーぞーこ

    Ree-zoo-ko

    Refrigerator

    Usage

    The fridge. Okinawan tends to lengthen Japanese "e" vowels, giving "reezooko"

14. テレビ

    Te-re-bi

    Television

    Usage

    The TV — how you follow a typhoon's track when one is approaching

15. せんたくき

    Sen-ta-ku-ki

    Washing machine

    Usage

    The washing machine. Salt-soaked beach clothes want washing promptly — use this to ask whether the lodging has one

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