* 言葉 (kotoba): This is the most common and general translation for "word." It refers to a word, a phrase, or even language itself.
* 単語 (tango): This translates to "vocabulary word" or "term." It's more specific and refers to a single unit of meaning in a lexicon.
* 発言 (hatsugen): This means "utterance" or "statement." It refers to a spoken or written word, often in a specific context.
* 単語 (tango): This word is for "word" in the sense of a single unit of vocabulary.
To get the most accurate translation, you need to provide the context in which you're using the word "word."