GL

じーえる
noun
girls' love; female-female romance genre
1. girls' love; female-female romance genre
A genre of fiction, primarily manga and novels, featuring romantic relationships between female characters.
GL作品(さくひん)が好(す)きだ。
I like GL works.
GL漫画(まんが)の人気(にんき)が上(あ)がっている。
The popularity of GL manga is rising.
この雑誌(ざっし)はGL専門(せんもん)だ。
This magazine specializes in GL.

Abbreviation of English "Girls' Love" — a Japanese-coined term (和製英語(わせいえいご)) for fiction featuring romantic relationships between women.

ETYMOLOGY:
Like BL (Boys' Love), GL is a genre label created in Japan. The English-speaking world more commonly uses "yuri" (borrowed back from Japanese) or "sapphic fiction."

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • GL漫画(まんが): GL manga
  • GL作品(さくひん): GL work/title
  • GL小説(しょうせつ): GL novel

SIMILAR TERMS:

  • 百合(ゆり): another term for GL (literally "lily"); more common in Japanese fan communities
  • BL: boys' love (the male-male equivalent)

USAGE:
Most commonly encountered in discussions of manga, anime, light novels, and related media. The term is neutral and descriptive, not pejorative.

Related Words

Related: BL (boys' love)
general
Added 2026.1.21 10:00 · Revised 2026.3.28 12:50
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