ぐぐる

• Reading: ぐぐる
• Romaji: guguru
• Pronunciation: /gu.gu.ɾu/

Meaning

To Google something — to look up information on the internet using a search engine.

A verb formed from the brand name Google (グーグル) by adding the Japanese verb suffix -る, ぐぐる has become so entrenched in casual speech that it is used regardless of which search engine is actually used. It simply means to search online. The famous internet phrase ぐぐれカス (Google it, you idiot) cemented its place in Japanese net culture. Used universally across age groups in informal settings.

Examples

1. わからないことがあったらとりあえずぐぐってみなよ。 If there's something you don't know, just try Googling it.
2. さっきぐぐったんだけど、やっぱりこのレストラン評判いいみたい。 I just Googled it, and it looks like this restaurant really does have good reviews.
3. ぐぐれば一瞬で出てくるのに、なんで人に聞くの？ It comes up in a second if you Google it — why ask people?

Usage Guide

Context: friends, online, daily conversation

Tone: casual, matter-of-fact

Do Say

• それぐぐった？すぐ出てくるよ。 (Did you Google that? It comes right up.)
• ぐぐったら解決した！ (I Googled it and solved it!)

Don't Say

• ビジネスメールで「ぐぐってください」は軽すぎる (Writing 'please Google it' in a business email is too casual)

Common Mistakes

• Using ぐぐる in formal writing — use 検索する (kensaku suru) instead
• Assuming ぐぐる only means using Google — it means any internet search

Origin & History

Coined from Google (グーグル) by adding the Japanese verb-forming suffix -る. Popularised in the early 2000s as internet search became ubiquitous. Related to the famous internet phrase ぐぐれカス (google it, you idiot).

Cultural Context

Era: Early 2000s internet culture

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal informal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. One of the earliest internet-derived verbs to enter mainstream casual Japanese.