# yandere

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈjɑːndɛɹeɪ/ · frequency rank #81,048

## Definitions
1. A character, usually a girl, who has an obsessive and possessive side in regards to their crush, ready to use violent (if not murderous) means to maintain an exclusive bond.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese ヤンデレ (yandere), a portmanteau of 病んでる (yanderu), contraction of 病んでいる (yande iru), progressive tense of 病む (yamu, “to be sick”), and デレデレ (dere-dere, “in a lovey-dovey, infatuated, or lovestruck manner”, adverb).
Developed on the model of tsundere (“being cold and even hostile towards another person before gradually showing a warm and caring side over time”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-02.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/yandere