Origami Vocabulary in English — 20 Essential Terms
20 key origami words with definitions and example sentences — valley folds, mountain folds, bases, and more for A2–B1 ESL learners and paper-craft enthusiasts.
Pedagogically reviewed by LexFizz Team
Origami is the traditional Japanese art of folding a single sheet of paper into decorative or representational shapes without cutting or gluing. The word comes from the Japanese oru (to fold) and kami (paper). Although the craft is centuries old, it has its own precise English vocabulary, as defined by the Oxford Learner's Dictionaries, that describes folds, techniques, and finished forms — language that is useful for following diagrams, watching tutorials, and joining the international folding community. Imagine a folder working through a diagram that calls for a precise valley fold followed by a squash fold to shape the model's wing — this is exactly the vocabulary used in origami tutorials and instruction books.
The 20 terms on this page cover the fundamental folds every beginner learns, such as the valley fold and mountain fold, as well as more advanced manoeuvres like the reverse fold, squash fold, and sink fold. You will also meet structural words such as base, crease, and flap, along with the names of classic models and techniques like the crane, tessellation, and wet folding.
These words will help you read origami instructions, understand diagrams, and discuss your folding projects confidently in English. For related language, see our Quilting vocabulary, Sewing vocabulary, and Calligraphy vocabulary pages.
Word List
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| crease | a line or ridge made in paper by folding it and then flattening it; creases form the structural framework of an origami model and are often made and unfolded as guide lines | Before folding the bird, she made a sharp crease down the centre of the square to mark the line of symmetry. |
| valley fold | a basic fold in which the paper is folded towards you, forming a groove or ‘valley’ shape; it is usually shown in diagrams as a dashed line | The instructions began with a simple valley fold, bringing the bottom edge of the paper up to meet the top edge. |
| mountain fold | the opposite of a valley fold, in which the paper is folded away from you so the crease points upward like a ridge or ‘mountain’; shown in diagrams as a dash-dot line | To shape the wings, you fold each side back with a mountain fold so the crease rises away from your hands. |
| pleat | a combination of a valley fold and an adjacent mountain fold that creates a step or fold-back in the paper, like the pleat in a fabric skirt | A series of even pleats along the strip of paper produced the concertina effect needed for the fan. |
| reverse fold | a technique in which a flap of paper is folded inside or outside an existing crease by reversing the direction of part of the fold; used to make heads, beaks, and feet | An inside reverse fold turned the pointed tip of the paper neatly into the bird's beak. |
| squash fold | a technique in which a flap is opened up and pressed flat — or ‘squashed’ — symmetrically over a crease, often turning a narrow point into a wider shape | The squash fold flattened the raised flap into a small diamond that would later become a petal. |
| petal fold | a more advanced technique that lifts and narrows a flap of paper, usually combining squash and reverse folds to create a slim, pointed shape resembling a flower petal | The classic bird base relies on a petal fold to create the slender points that become the wings and tail. |
| crimp | a small pair of folds — one valley and one mountain — made close together to bend a flap at an angle without changing its overall direction, often used to shape necks or legs | A short crimp near the top of the model bent the giraffe's neck forward at a realistic angle. |
| sink fold | an advanced technique in which a point or peak of paper is pushed down inside the model rather than folded over the outside, requiring the model to be partly unfolded first | The closed sink fold was the trickiest step, as it meant pushing the top point right down into the centre of the model. |
| swivel fold | a technique in which a small flap is shifted or ‘swivelled’ around a point, creating a new crease while pivoting the paper into a fresh position | A swivel fold redistributed the paper at the base so that the legs could be brought closer together. |
| base | a standard, recognised starting configuration of folds from which many different models can be developed; common examples include the bird base, the water-bomb base, and the preliminary base | Once you have learned the bird base, you can fold dozens of traditional models from the same starting point. |
| crane | the most famous traditional origami model, a folded paper crane (a long-legged bird); in Japan it is a symbol of peace and longevity, and folding a thousand is said to grant a wish | The classroom decorated the hall with hundreds of brightly coloured paper cranes for the peace ceremony. |
| tessellation | a folding technique that creates a repeating geometric pattern of pleats and twists across a sheet, so the folds interlock like tiles to fill the surface without gaps | Her origami tessellation formed a mesmerising honeycomb pattern that caught the light when held up to a window. |
| modular | describing origami made by folding several identical units separately and then assembling them into a larger structure, usually without glue | The modular star was built from thirty folded units that slotted together to form a hollow geometric sphere. |
| wet folding | a technique developed by Akira Yoshizawa in which the paper is slightly dampened before folding, allowing gentle curves and sculptural, three-dimensional shapes that hold their form when dry | Wet folding gave the paper elephant soft, rounded contours that would have been impossible with crisp, dry creases. |
| scoring | lightly pressing a line into thick paper or card with a blunt tool before folding, so that the fold is cleaner and the paper does not crack or tear along the crease | Because the card was heavy, she recommended scoring each line first to achieve a sharp, even fold. |
| diagonal | a fold or crease that runs from one corner of the square to the opposite corner, rather than along a vertical or horizontal line; many bases begin with diagonal creases | Folding the square in half along the diagonal produced a triangle and marked the first crease of the model. |
| flap | a free, movable layer or section of paper created by folding, which can be lifted, opened, or folded again; flaps often become legs, wings, or other appendages | Each of the four flaps at the base of the model would eventually be shaped into one of the frog's legs. |
| point | a narrow, pointed tip of paper formed where folds converge; points are the raw material for legs, antennae, and other thin features of a finished model | The complex insect model required eight separate points, one for each leg and one for each antenna. |
| layer | one of the overlapping sheets of paper that build up as a model is folded; understanding which layer to fold or open is essential for following advanced diagrams | The instructions warned you to fold only the top layer, leaving the layer beneath it flat. |
Practice These Words
Flash Cards
Review origami vocabulary with spaced repetition
Wordsearch
Find origami words hidden in the grid
Matching Pairs
Match origami terms to their definitions
Practice What You've Learned
LexFizz has 30 free interactive exercises — no sign-up needed.
Browse All Exercises →Related Vocabulary Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a valley fold and a mountain fold?
These are the two most basic folds in origami, and almost every model is built from them. A valley fold brings the paper towards you, so the crease sinks downward and forms a groove shaped like a valley; in diagrams it is drawn as a dashed line. A mountain fold does the opposite — the paper folds away from you, so the crease rises like a ridge or mountain; it is drawn as a dash-dot line. In fact, a mountain fold is simply a valley fold seen from the other side: if you turn the paper over, one becomes the other.
What is an origami ‘base’?
A base is a standard, recognised starting shape made from a fixed sequence of folds, from which many different finished models can be developed. Learning a base saves time because the same opening steps appear in countless designs. The most important traditional bases include the preliminary base, the water-bomb base, the bird base, and the frog base. For example, the famous paper crane begins from the bird base, and once you can fold that base confidently, dozens of other bird and animal models become accessible to you.
Why is the paper crane so important in origami?
The crane is the most iconic origami model and carries deep cultural meaning in Japan, where the bird symbolises peace, hope, healing, and long life. According to legend, anyone who folds one thousand paper cranes — a senbazuru — will be granted a wish or recover from illness. The crane became a worldwide symbol of peace after the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young survivor of the Hiroshima bombing who folded cranes during her illness. For learners, the crane is also a rite of passage, as it teaches the bird base and several intermediate folds.
What is a reverse fold and when is it used?
A reverse fold changes the direction of a flap of paper by reversing part of an existing crease, tucking the flap either inside the model (an inside reverse fold) or wrapping it outside (an outside reverse fold). It is one of the most common intermediate techniques and is used wherever a sharp change of direction is needed — most often to form a bird's beak, an animal's head, or the bend of a leg or foot. Mastering both inside and outside reverse folds opens up a huge range of more realistic animal models.
What is the difference between a squash fold and a sink fold?
Both are intermediate-to-advanced techniques but they work in opposite directions. A squash fold opens up a raised flap and presses it flat and symmetrically over a crease, usually turning a narrow point into a wider, flatter shape such as a diamond. A sink fold does the reverse: instead of folding a point over the outside, you push the point down into the inside of the model, so it disappears beneath the surrounding layers. Sink folds are harder because they often require you to partly unfold the model and refold it, and they come in ‘open’ and ‘closed’ varieties.
What is wet folding and why is it used?
Wet folding is a technique pioneered by the master folder Akira Yoshizawa, in which the paper is lightly dampened before and during folding. The moisture relaxes the fibres and a sizing agent in the paper, allowing the folder to create soft curves and rounded, sculptural forms rather than only sharp, straight creases. As the paper dries, it stiffens and holds the new shape permanently. Wet folding is especially popular for lifelike animals — such as elephants, bears, and horses — where gentle contours look far more natural than crisp geometric edges.
What is modular origami?
Modular origami is made by folding several identical units, called modules, and then locking them together to build a larger structure — usually without any glue, relying instead on flaps and pockets that hold one another in place. Many modular models are geometric: stars, polyhedra, spheres, and decorative balls (kusudama) are popular examples. Because the units are repetitive, modular origami is a good way to practise a single fold sequence many times, but the assembly stage requires patience and a clear understanding of how the layers and flaps interlock.
What is an origami tessellation?
A tessellation is a folding technique that creates a repeating geometric pattern across a single sheet of paper, using interlocking pleats and twist folds so that the shapes tile the surface without gaps or overlaps, much like floor tiles. When held up to the light, tessellations reveal beautiful translucent patterns formed by the overlapping layers. They sit at the intersection of art and mathematics and are usually folded from a pre-creased grid. Tessellations are considered an advanced area of origami and require precision and consistency across many small, repeated folds.
Do I need special paper to do origami?
You do not need special paper to start — any thin, foldable square will do, and many people begin with ordinary printer paper cut into a square. However, dedicated origami paper (often called kami) is thinner, holds a sharp crease well, and usually comes coloured on one side and white on the other, which is helpful for following diagrams. For complex models with many layers you may want very thin paper, while for wet folding you need a thicker paper that contains sizing. Scoring the fold lines first is recommended whenever you work with thick card.
What is the best way to learn origami vocabulary in English?
The most effective method is to fold along with English-language diagrams or video tutorials and say each technique aloud as you perform it — valley fold, squash fold, reverse fold. Because origami terms describe physical actions, doing the action while naming it fixes the word in your memory far better than reading alone. Start with simple models such as the crane to encounter the core folds in context. Then practise the 20 terms on this page with Flash Cards on LexFizz, and test yourself with the Matching Pairs exercise to check your recall.