Otaku: pronounced "oh tah coo" (no emphasis on any syllable). O- is technically a prefix of respect, but has become part of the word, i.e. 'taku' is meaningless. Litterally means 'house'. Also carries other slang meanings: When used to refer to people, it means 'nerd' - the implication is that they do not leave the house. Therefore, most everything2 noders are otaku. Also, since otaku is derived from japanese, which has but does not usually use plural, when otaku is used in english, should be both singular and plural - i.e. 'look at that otaku.'; 'look at those otaku.'