元カレ

• Reading: もとカレ
• Romaji: moto kare
• Kanji breakdown: 元 (former/origin) + カレ (short for 彼氏, boyfriend) → ex-boyfriend
• Pronunciation: /mo.to ka.ɾe/

Meaning

Ex-boyfriend — a former male romantic partner.

元カレ is a casual, widely-used abbreviation of 元彼氏 (moto kareshi). It's used freely in everyday conversation among friends. Talking about 元カレ is common in Japanese dating discussions, and the term carries no particular stigma — it's simply a neutral descriptor for a past relationship.

Examples

1. 元カレとばったり会って気まずかった。 I ran into my ex-boyfriend and it was so awkward.
2. 元カレの話ばっかりする子って正直めんどくさい。 Honestly, girls who won't stop talking about their ex are kind of annoying.
3. 元カレのSNS見ちゃうのやめたい。 I need to stop stalking my ex's social media.

Usage Guide

Context: friends, casual conversation, social media

Tone: casual, matter-of-fact

Do Say

• 元カレとはもう連絡取ってないよ。 (I'm not in contact with my ex anymore.)
• 元カレに偶然会ったらどうする？ (What would you do if you ran into your ex?)

Don't Say

• 新しいパートナーの前で元カレの話を長くするのはNG (Going on about your ex in front of your new partner is a bad move)

Common Mistakes

• Using the full 元彼氏 in casual conversation — 元カレ is the standard casual form and sounds more natural among friends

Origin & History

Abbreviation of 元彼氏 (moto kareshi, former boyfriend). 元 (moto) means 'former/ex-' and カレ is short for 彼氏 (kareshi, boyfriend). Became the standard casual form through everyday conversation.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern abbreviation, established since the 1990s

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. The standard casual way to refer to an ex-boyfriend.