In Japanese, a katana is referred to as 刀 (かたな, katana). The term "katana" itself is derived from the Japanese word "katana" (刀), which broadly translates to "sword."

Katana is the most well-known and iconic type of Japanese sword. It has a distinctive curved, single-edged blade, a circular or squared guard (tsuba), and a long grip (tsuka) that can accommodate two hands. The katana is historically associated with the samurai warriors of feudal Japan.

It's worth noting that there are also specific terms for other types of Japanese swords, such as the wakizashi (a shorter companion sword) and the tanto (a dagger-like weapon). These swords, along with the katana, are collectively referred to as nihonto (日本刀), which means "Japanese sword" in Japanese.