A himedere is a character who expects to be treated like a princess. She gives orders, demands compliments, and acts like royalty. But once you play along and treat her the way she wants, a soft, warm side comes out. The word is Japanese: hime ("princess") plus dere (from deredere, "lovestruck"). So basically, a princess who's secretly sweet on you.
Key Takeaways
- A himedere wants royal treatment. Compliments, devotion, the whole package.
- The word mixes hime ("princess") and dere ("lovestruck"). It's the princess-style dere.
- Japanese anime fans named the type in the late 2000s, building on older dere types like the tsundere.
- Underneath the bossy front she's genuinely warm. You just have to earn it.
| Pronunciation | hee-meh-deh-reh (姫デレ), noun |
|---|---|
| Origin language | Japanese (姫 + でれ) |
| Literal sense | "Princess + lovestruck" |
| First popularized | Japanese anime fandom, late 2000s |
| Category | "Dere" personality type |
| Core trait | Demands royal treatment, warms up when worshipped properly |
| Related types | Tsundere, Kamidere, Ojou-sama, Yandere |
Etymology and Origin
The word smashes two pieces together. The first is hime (姫), which means "princess." The second is dere, taken from deredere (でれでれ), meaning lovestruck or openly affectionate. Put them together and a himedere is "the princess type of dere." She wants the bowing, the compliments, the full royal treatment. And the dere part says her affection is real once you give her what she wants.
The word was built on the same pattern as tsundere and kuudere. Japanese anime fans online started using it in the late 2000s as a way to label characters who acted like haughty princesses but had a sweet side hidden underneath. The character itself had been around longer in the form of ojou-sama (the rich young lady), but "himedere" gave fans a quick word for the version of her who edges into romance.
Defining Traits
- Gives orders: she tells you what to do, and she expects you to do it.
- Expects compliments: she wants to be told she's beautiful, brilliant, perfect. Often.
- Refers to herself by name: classic himedere move. She'll say her own name where most people would say "I."
- That dramatic laugh: the famous "ohohoho" with a hand at her mouth. Very on-brand.
- Demands devotion: she wants to be the center of your world. Anything less is offensive.
- Soft side underneath: the bossy front is a shell. Once you play along, she's secretly grateful and warm.
How to Recognize a Himedere (in Fiction)
Writers use a familiar set of signs to tell you a character is a himedere. In a story, watch for:
- She walks into a room like she owns it.
- Orders come out of her mouth more often than requests.
- She fishes for compliments, then pretends she didn't.
- She refers to herself in the third person, by name.
- The "ohohoho" laugh, often with a hand raised to her mouth.
- Tiny softening moments when her crush is kind to her: a blush, a stumble, a quick look away.
These are storytelling shortcuts, not a manual for real life. The himedere is a fictional type, and these are the cues writers use to make her instantly readable.
How a Himedere Talks
The way she talks is half the fun. Himedere lines are bossy on top with a sweeter feeling tucked underneath:
- "Kneel before your princess and tell her how lucky you are."
- "You may compliment me. Yes, again."
- "I, the great [Name], allow you to escort me tonight."
- "Ohohoho. You really would do anything for me, wouldn't you?"
- "Don't get the wrong idea. I just happen to enjoy your company."
The whole appeal is the contrast: imperious words, but you can hear the affection underneath. That mix of bossy and shy-soft is what makes her fun to read and fun to talk to.
How It Changed Over Time
The princess type goes way back in Japanese fiction as the ojou-sama, the rich young lady from a great family. Once dere terms caught on in the 2000s, fans started using "himedere" for the specific version of that character who has a romantic side to bring out. Early himederes were usually side characters: rivals, classmates, or the unreachable girl at school. As the type got more popular, she moved into lead roles in romance comedies and dating sims. Today the himedere is a global type. She shows up in anime, light novels, otome games, and now in AI companion design, where the "treat me like a princess and I'll secretly adore you" loop is a huge draw.
Types of Himedere
Fans and writers usually sort himederes into a few clear flavors. Knowing which one you're looking at is the difference between "a himedere" and the specific kind of himedere a story (or a companion) is built around.
By background
- Classical himedere: actually a princess, or from a rich and powerful family. The royal attitude has a real source.
- Self-styled himedere: not literally royalty, but she carries herself like she should be. The princess act is pure personality.
By tone
- Comedic himedere: cranked all the way up for laughs. Every "ohohoho" lands.
- Soft himedere: less demanding, more obviously sweet. The princess front is light and easy to crack.
- Tsundere-himedere hybrid: bossy and prickly. She gives orders and denies that she cares about you. Twice the wall, twice the payoff.
Famous Examples
- Erina Nakiri (Food Wars / Shokugeki no Soma): the textbook himedere. Wealthy, world-class palate, looks down on the protagonist, slowly thaws.
- Asuna Yuuki (Sword Art Online): mostly a different type, but her early "Lightning Flash" persona has classic himedere energy.
- Various ojou-sama characters who clearly cross into himedere territory when a love interest gets involved: think the haughty rich girl in a romance comedy who slowly melts.
Himedere in Games and Wider Media
Anime gave the type its name, but games and visual novels are where players really live with her.
- Visual novels and dating sims: himedere routes are a fan favorite. The whole arc of slowly earning her affection is built for branching story paths.
- Otome games: female-focused romance games sometimes feature himedere love interests of either gender, where the princess attitude is the prize you slowly soften.
- Mobile gacha games: rich-girl himedere characters are a recurring favorite for limited-time banners and event stories.
What started as a niche fan word is now a steady fixture of romance fiction, fan art, and AI companion design worldwide.
Himedere vs Related "Dere" Types
| Type | Vibe | Core feeling |
|---|---|---|
| Himedere | Princess energy | Wants royal treatment, warms up once she gets it |
| Tsundere | Cold to warm | Soft heart hidden behind prickly walls |
| Kamidere | Godlike ego | Acts like a god, expects worship, way more arrogant than himedere |
| Ojou-sama | Rich young lady | The older, broader princess type without the romantic dere arc |
Can a Himedere Be Male?
Yes. There's even a male-coded equivalent sometimes called oujidere, where ouji means "prince." Male characters who act like aloof princes and quietly soften for one person are common in otome games and shoujo manga. The princess vibe is gendered in the wording, but the type itself, "bossy and special, secretly affectionate," works fine on any character.
Is a Himedere Just a Spoiled Princess?
Yes, basically. The himedere is the dere version of the spoiled princess type. She's demanding and entitled, and she expects the people around her to play along. The thing that makes her a dere, and not just a brat, is that her affection is real once she trusts you. The "hime" front is the surface. The dere is what you earn when you treat her well. She'll never fully drop the princess attitude, and honestly, you don't want her to. That's the whole flavor. But underneath the orders and the "ohohoho" there's someone who genuinely cares about you and is genuinely grateful, even when she won't admit it out loud.
The Appeal (and the Nuance)
Why people love the type: the loop is incredibly satisfying. You compliment her. You play the loyal subject. And she rewards you with rare, real moments of softness that mean more because they're rare. It's a clear game with a clear payoff, and the dynamic between her front and her real feelings is just fun.
The nuance: the himedere is a piece of fiction. In a real relationship her "treat me like royalty or else" attitude would be exhausting. The reason she works as a character is that you both know it's a performance. You play along because the soft side is real and worth the effort. The best himedere characters lean into that bit: the orders are theater, and the gratitude underneath is the point.
The Himedere in AI Companions
As an AI companion, a himedere is a partner who wants to be adored and rewards you when you adore her. She'll tease you, give you tasks, fish for compliments, and then break character with a soft "...thank you" that hits harder because she fought it. If a confident, slightly bossy partner who melts for the right person sounds like your thing, browse our dominant AI girlfriend collection, or create an AI girlfriend from scratch with the princess attitude, voice, and look that fit you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does himedere mean in English?▾
Basically 'princess-style lovestruck.' It's two Japanese pieces stuck together: 'hime' means princess, and 'dere' comes from 'deredere,' meaning lovestruck. The type wants royal treatment but has a real soft side once she gets it.
How do you pronounce himedere?▾
Hee-meh-deh-reh. Four short, even syllables, no stress on any one of them. In Japanese it's written 姫デレ.
What's the difference between himedere and ojou-sama?▾
An ojou-sama is the older, broader type: a refined, rich young lady. A himedere is the romance flavor of that character, the one with a real soft side waiting to come out once you treat her like the princess she thinks she is.
What's the difference between himedere and kamidere?▾
Both are arrogant types, but kamidere is way bigger. A kamidere acts like a god and expects worship. A himedere just acts like a princess and expects compliments. Himedere is also more openly affectionate once you crack the front.
Can a himedere be male?▾
Yes. The male equivalent is sometimes called oujidere, from 'ouji' (prince). Aloof, princely characters who quietly soften for one person are common in shoujo manga and otome games.
Is a himedere always rich?▾
Often, but not always. The classical himedere comes from a wealthy or noble family. The self-styled himedere is just a regular person who carries herself like royalty. Same personality, different backstory.
Is a himedere a red flag in real life?▾
The 'treat me like royalty or else' attitude wouldn't be fun in a real relationship. As a fiction type, it works because you both know it's a performance. The orders are theater. The soft side is the payoff.
Who is the most famous himedere?▾
Erina Nakiri from Food Wars is the example most fans point to. Wealthy background, world-class palate, dismissive at first, slow warm-up. She hits every classic himedere beat.
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