# senpai

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈsɛnpaɪ/ · frequency rank #36,754

## Definitions
1. The senior member of a group in Japanese arts; a mentor.
2. An upperclassman or elder student, in the context of Japan.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese 先(せん)輩(ぱい) (senpai). Doublet of sunbae.

## Easily confused with
- **Sinai** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/senpai-vs-sinai)
- **sensei** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/senpai-vs-sensei)
- **senna** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/senna-vs-senpai)
- **Sendai** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sendai-vs-senpai)

## Common misspellings (8)
`esnpai`, `senapi`, `sennpai`, `senpia`, `senppai`, `sepnai`, `snepai`, `ssenpai`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/senpai