いらっしゃい

いらっしゃい is a greeting meaning 'welcome' or 'come in,' derived from the imperative of いらっしゃる (honorific for 'to be/come/go').

Forms

• いらっしゃい: casual welcome (used at home, casual shops)
• いらっしゃいませ: polite welcome (standard greeting in shops and restaurants)

Usage

• Shops/restaurants: 店員(てんいん) say いらっしゃいませ to greet customers. This is automatic and does not require a response.
• At home: Used when welcoming guests, often followed by 上(あ)がって (come in) or どうぞ (please)
• Casual eateries: Some 居酒屋(いざかや) and 食堂(しょくどう) use the shorter いらっしゃい for a warmer, less formal feel

Cultural note

In Japan, shop staff call out いらっしゃいませ continuously, even when not directly addressing a specific customer. It creates a welcoming atmosphere and signals that the shop is open for business.

Related words

• いらっしゃる: honorific verb (to be, come, go)
• ようこそ: welcome (more formal, often for events or tourism)