VTuber

English

Alternative forms

• Vtuber

Etymology

From Japanese VTuber, from English virtual + YouTuber.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation)
  • (yod-coalescence) IPA^(key): /ˈviːˌtʃuː.bə/
  • (non-yod-coalescence) IPA^(key): /ˈviːˌtjuː.bə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈviˌtu.bəɹ/
• Rhymes: -uːbə(ɹ)
• Hyphenation: V‧Tu‧ber

Noun

VTuber (plural VTubers)

1. Abbreviation of virtual YouTuber.

   corpo VTuber ― virtual YouTuber who is affiliated with a corporation

   indie VTuber ― independent virtual YouTuber

   • 2025 April 21, Ana Velans, “Why Is This ‘Gamer Supps’ VTuber Pushing the Great Replacement Theory?”, in VICE‎^[1], archived from the original on 13 May 2025:

     It’s a rite of passage for a growing VTuber to gain a Gamer Supps partnership, let alone snag a merchandise run via the company’s Waifu Cups line. […] While some VTubers may wink or nod to conservative beliefs, Kirsche has never hidden her political leanings.

Derived terms

• VTubing

Japanese

Alternative spellings
Vtuber Vチューバー

Etymology

From the initial letter of English virtual and the final of English YouTuber.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [bɯ̟it͡ɕɨːba̠ː]
• (Tokyo) ブイチューバー [bùíchúꜜùbàà] (Nakadaka – [3])

Noun

VTuber(ブイチューバー) • (bui-chūbā) 

1. short for バーチャルYouTuber (bācharu yūchūbā, “virtual YouTuber”)

   『VTuber(ブイチューバー)なんだが配(はい)信(しん)切(き)り忘(わす)れたら伝(でん)説(せつ)になってた』

   “Bui-chūbā nanda ga haishin kiriwasuretara densetsu ni natteta”

   VTuber Legend: How I Went Viral After Forgetting to Turn Off My Stream

   • 2026 February 18, たまごまご, “フィクションの中で、“VTuber”はどのように描かれるか？ 『超かぐや姫！』『真夜中ハートチューン』『夜のクラゲは泳げない』等から見る現在の表現”, in MoguLive‎^[2]:

     本人(ほんにん)が仮(かり)に「8000歳(はっせんさい)」だというのなら、そう信(しん)じる姿勢(しせい)を取(と)って相手(あいて)の話(はなし)(ロールプレイ)に向(む)き合(あ)うのが、VTuber(ブイチューバー)を見(み)る時(とき)の”暗黙(あんもく)の了解(りょうかい)”だ。

     Honnin ga kari ni “hassen-sai” da to iu no nara, sō shinjiru shisei o totte aite no hanashi (rōrupurei) ni mukiau no ga, bui-chūbā o miru toki no ” anmoku no ryōkai” da.

     If the streamer says that they are "8000 years old", participating in the roleplay by believing in this is the "silent agreement" when watching VTubers.

Usage notes

• Sometimes preferred as an alternative term that avoids direct usage of the commercial name YouTube.

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• Vtuber, vtuber

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English VTuber.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /viˈtu.beʁ/ [viˈtu.beh], /veˈtu.beʁ/ [veˈtu.beh]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /viˈtu.beʁ/ [viˈtu.beh], /veˈtu.beʁ/ [veˈtu.beh]
  • (São Paulo) IPA^(key): /viˈtu.beɾ/, /veˈtu.beɾ/
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /viˈtu.beʁ/ [viˈtu.beχ], /veˈtu.beʁ/ [veˈtu.beχ]
  • (Caipira) IPA^(key): /viˈtu.beɻ/, /veˈtu.beɻ/

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /viˈtu.bɛɾ/ [viˈtu.βɛɾ]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /viˈtu.bɛɾ/ [viˈtu.βɛɾ]
  • (Northern Portugal) IPA^(key): /biˈtu.bɛɾ/ [biˈtu.βɛɾ]
  • (Southern Portugal) IPA^(key): /viˈtu.bɛɾ/

• Rhymes: -ubeʁ, -ubeɾ
• Hyphenation: V‧Tu‧ber

Noun

VTuber m or f by sense (plural VTubers)

1. virtual YouTuber

   Synonym: youtuber virtual