kami

The word 'kami' entered English as a direct borrowing from Japanese, where it refers to the sacred spirits or phenomena worshipped in the Shinto religion. The Japanese term itself is of ancient origin, potentially deriving from earlier terms meaning "superior" or "above," reflecting the concept of a higher, numinous presence. In English, it retains its specific cultural and religious context, denoting the Shinto concept of divinity, which can inhabit natural elements, forces, and revered ancestors. Its adoption into English vocabulary illustrates the direct import of a key term to discuss non-Western religious concepts without translation.

This is a direct loanword from Japanese (神). It is a simplex word in English and cannot be meaningfully segmented into smaller morphemes derived from its English spelling. Its functional role is as a complete noun.