Origami Glossary: 100 Essential Terms
Welcome to our comprehensive origami glossary. Use this reference guide to understand the terminology used in origami instructions and tutorials.
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A
Action Fold
A fold that creates movement in a model, such as a flapping bird’s wings or a jumping frog’s legs. These folds store potential energy when the model is compressed.
Accordion Fold
A series of parallel mountain and valley folds that create a zigzag pattern like an accordion. This folding technique is commonly used in origami tessellations and pleated structures.
Akira Yoshizawa
A Japanese origami master (1911-2005) who is considered the grandmaster of origami. He developed the standard set of origami notation now used worldwide and elevated origami to an art form.
A-Line Fold
A symmetrical fold where the crease lines form an “A” shape when the paper is unfolded. Used in many geometric models and tessellations.
B
Back-Reverse Fold
A combination of a reverse fold followed by folding the paper back on itself. This technique is often used to create legs, arms, or other protruding features in animal models.
Base
A starting shape from which more complex models are created. Common bases include the bird base, frog base, fish base, and waterbomb base. These foundational forms provide the structure for many traditional and modern designs.
Bird Base
A fundamental origami form used as the starting point for many bird models and other complex designs. It features four points (typically for wings, head and tail) and is one of the traditional bases in origami.
Blintzing
A technique where all four corners of a square are folded into the center. This creates a smaller square rotated 45 degrees from the original and is used in many traditional models.
Book Fold
A simple fold that divides the paper in half, like closing a book. It’s one of the most basic folds and often the first step in many origami models.
Box Pleating
A folding technique that creates a grid of squares on the paper. This method is used to design complex models with many points and is popular in technical origami.
C
Closed Sink
A sinking technique where the paper is pushed inward without opening the model, creating an inverted point. This technique creates a clean exterior appearance.
Crease Pattern
A diagram showing all the fold lines needed to create a model. Crease patterns are used by advanced folders to understand complex origami structures.
Crimp
A folding technique that creates a zigzag shape by folding a portion of the paper back and forth. Crimps are often used to create details like legs, tails, or necks.
Curved Fold
A fold along a curved line rather than a straight one. Curved folds create organic shapes and are used in modern origami to achieve flowing, sculptural forms.
D
Diagonal Fold
A fold made from one corner of the paper to the opposite corner, creating a triangular shape. This is one of the most basic folds in origami.
Diamond Base
A foundational form created from a square by folding in half twice, forming a smaller square, and then folding the corners to the center. Used as a starting point for many geometric models.
Double Rabbit Ear
A folding technique that creates two triangular flaps side by side. Often used to form features like ears, fins, or decorative elements.
E
Edge
The boundary or perimeter of an origami paper. In diagrams, edges are often referred to when providing folding instructions.
Eric Joisel
A renowned French origami artist (1956-2010) famous for his complex, sculptural human figures and musicians. His work is known for its artistic expression and technical complexity.
Even Division
The process of dividing a sheet or a section of paper into equal segments, often used to create precise reference points for complex folds.
F
Fish Base
One of the traditional origami bases featuring a triangular shape with two flaps. Commonly used to create fish models and other aquatic creatures.
Flexibility
The quality of origami paper that allows it to be folded repeatedly without tearing. Different papers have varying levels of flexibility which affects their suitability for different models.
Flapping Bird
A classic origami model that can flap its wings when the tail is pulled. One of the most recognizable action origami models, often one of the first action models taught to beginners.
Fold and Unfold
A common instruction in origami diagrams, indicating that a temporary fold should be made to create a crease line and then unfolded. These reference creases guide subsequent folding steps.
Frog Base
A traditional origami base featuring four legs and often used to create amphibians and other four-legged animals. Derived from the square base.
G
Gathers
Folds that create texture by bunching the paper together in a controlled manner. Used in representational origami to create fur, feathers, or other textured effects.
Ghost Fold
A fold that is marked but not actually completed in the final model. These reference creases help with alignment and positioning of subsequent folds.
Gusset
A fold that creates extra paper to accommodate three-dimensional structures. Often used in origami boxes and containers to create depth and volume.
H
Hiden Senbazuru Orikata
One of the earliest documented origami books, published in Japan in 1797. It contained instructions for folding ceremonial paper objects, including the crane.
Hinge
A fold that allows part of a model to move or rotate. Used in action origami to create movable parts like wings, mouths, or flippers.
Horizontal Fold
A fold made parallel to the top and bottom edges of the paper, creating a horizontal crease. One of the basic reference folds in origami.
I
Inside Reverse Fold
A fold where the paper is pushed inward along a crease, reversing the direction of the fold. Commonly used to create heads, tails, and limbs in animal models.
Iso Area Folding
A technique developed by Jun Maekawa that ensures the surface area of a flat sheet is maintained throughout the folding process, preserving proportions in complex models.
Isosceles Triangle
A triangle with two sides of equal length. Many origami models start with paper folded into isosceles triangles to create symmetrical designs.
J
Joint
A connection between two sections of an origami model that allows movement. Used in complex models to create articulation in limbs or other moving parts.
Jullian Levi
A contemporary origami artist known for his elegant and minimalist designs, particularly his abstract geometric forms and modular origami work.
K
Kami
Traditional Japanese origami paper, usually colored on one side and white on the other. Typically thin and easy to fold, it’s the most common paper used in origami.
Kite Base
A simple origami base formed by folding two adjacent corners to the center. Used as a starting point for many models, including the crane.
Kawasaki Rose
A complex origami rose designed by Toshikazu Kawasaki. Known for its realistic appearance and curved petals, it’s considered an intermediate to advanced model.
L
Lazy Fold
A fold that involves rotating part of the paper to align with a reference edge without creating a sharp crease. Used in complex models to gently curve the paper.
Layer
A thickness of paper within a folded model. Complex origami can have many layers of paper, which can affect the model’s foldability and appearance.
Lily
A classic origami flower model with distinctive petals. Often one of the first flower models taught to intermediate folders.
M
Modular Origami
A technique where multiple sheets of paper are folded into identical units and then assembled to create a larger, complex structure. Popular for creating geometric forms and polyhedra.
Mountain Fold
A fold that forms a ridge or peak when looking at the model from above. In diagrams, mountain folds are typically represented by dash-dot lines.
Multi-piece Origami
Origami models made from multiple sheets of paper, but unlike modular origami, the pieces may be different in size, shape, or function. Used for complex, detailed models.
N
Naked Edge
An edge of the original paper that remains visible in the completed model. Handling these edges carefully is important for the final appearance of the model.
Narrowing
A technique used to make a section of paper thinner through a series of folds. Often used in animal models to create legs, necks, or tails.
Noshi
A traditional Japanese decorative paper fold attached to gifts as a symbol of good fortune. One of the earliest documented forms of ceremonial paper folding.
O
Open Sink
A sinking technique where the paper is opened at a point, then pushed inward and reclosed. This creates an internal structure that’s not visible from the outside.
Origami
The Japanese art of paper folding. The word comes from “ori” (folding) and “kami” (paper). Traditional origami uses a single sheet of paper with no cutting or gluing.
Outside Reverse Fold
A fold where the paper is pulled outward along a crease, reversing the direction of the fold. Used to create outward-pointing features like beaks or horns.
P
Petal Fold
A fold that transforms a point into a rounded petal shape. Commonly used in flower models to create realistic-looking petals.
Pleat
A series of parallel mountain and valley folds that zigzag back and forth. Used to compress paper and create texture or dimension in a model.
Precreasing
The process of making all necessary creases before collapsing a model into its final form. Essential for complex models with many folds.
Preliminary Fold
Initial folds made to establish reference points or prepare the paper for more complex folding sequences. Often these are basic dividing folds.
Pureland Origami
A style of origami that uses only simple mountain and valley folds, with no complex techniques. Developed by John Smith to make origami more accessible.
Q
Quilt Fold
A geometric folding pattern that creates a quilted appearance with repeating shapes. Often used in decorative origami and tessellations.
R
Rabbit Ear
A folding technique that creates a triangular flap by folding a point to a specified position. Often used to form ears, legs, or decorative elements.
Reference Point
A specific location on the paper used as a guide for subsequent folds. Reference points are crucial for achieving precision in complex models.
Reverse Fold
A fold that changes the direction of a point or flap by folding along a diagonal line. One of the most important techniques in origami for creating detail and dimension.
Robert Lang
A contemporary American origami master and physicist known for his complex, realistic designs and mathematical approach to origami. Pioneer in computational origami.
S
Senbazuru
A string of 1,000 origami cranes. According to Japanese tradition, folding 1,000 cranes grants the folder a wish. Often created as a symbol of hope and healing.
Sink Fold
A technique where a point or flap is pushed inward, creating a depression in the model. Used to create three-dimensional features and reduce paper layers.
Sonobe Unit
A simple modular origami unit developed by Mitsunobu Sonobe. Multiple Sonobe units can be assembled to create various polyhedra and geometric forms.
Spread Squash
A variation of the squash fold where the sides are spread outward, creating a broader, flatter shape. Used to create wide features like wings or fins.
Square Base
A fundamental origami form with four flaps extending from a central square. Used as a starting point for many models, including the traditional Japanese box.
Squash Fold
A folding technique where a pocket of paper is flattened, creating a new point and a broader surface area. Often used to create heads, tails, or limbs.
Swivel Fold
A fold where a section of paper is rotated around a pivot point, changing its orientation while maintaining its connection to the model.
T
Tessellation
A repeating pattern of folds that creates a geometric design. Origami tessellations often feature intricate repeating patterns that can be folded from a single sheet.
Thin Fold
A precise fold made very close to an edge or another fold, creating a narrow strip of paper. Used to refine details in complex models.
Tomoko Fuse
A renowned Japanese origami artist known for her intricate boxes, geometric designs, and modular origami. Her work combines traditional techniques with modern innovations.
Traditional Origami
Origami models that have been passed down through generations, often with cultural or historical significance. Examples include the crane, frog, and samurai helmet.
U
Unfold
The process of opening a fold to return the paper to its previous state. Often used temporarily to create reference creases for subsequent folds.
Unit Origami
Another term for modular origami, where multiple identical pieces are folded separately and then assembled into a larger structure without glue or tape.
V
Valley Fold
A fold that forms a valley or trough when looking at the model from above. In diagrams, valley folds are typically represented by dashed lines.
Vertex
A point where multiple fold lines meet. Understanding the relationship between vertices is crucial for designing and analyzing complex origami structures.
W
Washi
Traditional Japanese handmade paper made from natural fibers. Stronger and more durable than regular paper, making it excellent for complex origami models.
Waterbomb Base
A fundamental origami form created by folding a square into a triangular shape with flaps. Used as the starting point for many models, including the inflatable waterbomb.
Wet Folding
A technique where paper is slightly dampened before folding, allowing for curved folds and organic shapes. Developed by Akira Yoshizawa to create more sculptural origami.
Windmill Base
An origami base with four flaps extending from a central point in a pinwheel pattern. Used for models with four symmetrical elements.
X
X-Ray Folding
A technique that allows the folder to visualize internal structures of a model during the folding process. Important for understanding complex models with many layers.
Y
Yakko Base
A Japanese origami base resembling a diamond with two flaps. Used as the starting point for many traditional Japanese models.
Yoshizawa-Randlett System
The standard notation system used in origami diagrams worldwide. Developed by Akira Yoshizawa and later refined by Samuel Randlett and Robert Harbin.
Z
Zig-Zag Fold
A series of alternating mountain and valley folds that create a zigzag pattern. Used in tessellations, pleated structures, and to create texture.
Zone
A specific region of an origami model that requires a particular folding technique or attention to detail. Advanced folders often think in terms of zones when planning complex models.