スポンジ

From English "sponge." In Japanese, スポンジ most commonly refers to the kitchen or cleaning sponge, though it also applies to sponge material in general (e.g., sponge cake).

COMMON TYPES:

• 食器(しょっき)洗(あら)い用(よう)スポンジ (dish sponge)
• お風呂(ふろ)用(よう)スポンジ (bath sponge)
• 化粧(けしょう)スポンジ (makeup sponge)
• メラミンスポンジ (melamine sponge, "magic eraser")

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

• スポンジで洗(あら)う (to wash with a sponge)
• スポンジケーキ (sponge cake)
• スポンジのように吸収(きゅうしゅう)する (to absorb like a sponge)

RELATED WORDS:

• たわし: scrub brush (harder, for pots)
• 雑巾(ぞうきん): cleaning rag
• ブラシ: brush