Learn Katakana

Learn to Read and Write Katakana - The Japanese Alphabet

46 Basic Katakana

1. Vowels: a, i, u, e, o


a

i

u

e

o

1.1 ア (a)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ア a

Pronunciation of ア:

  • like “ah
  • like ‘a‘ in “arm”
  • like ‘a‘ in “mask”

1.2 イ (i)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana イ i

Pronunciation of イ:

  • like ‘i‘ in “in”
  • like ‘i‘ in “internet”
  • like ‘ee‘ in “eel”

1.3 ウ (u)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ウ u

Pronunciation of ウ:

  • like ‘u‘ in “gnu
  • like ‘oo‘ in “oops”
  • like ‘oo‘ in “moo

1.4 エ (e)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana エ e

Pronunciation of エ:

  • like ‘e‘ in “end”
  • like ‘e‘ in “exotic”
  • like ‘e‘ in “enter”

1.5 オ (o)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana オ o

Pronunciation of オ:

  • like “oh
  • like ‘o‘ in “off”
  • like ‘o‘ in “over”

2. K-Row: ka, ki, ku, ke, ko


ka

ki

ku

ke

ko

2.1 カ (ka)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana カ ka

Pronunciation of カ:

  • like “Ka” in “Kardashians”
  • like “Ca” in “California”
  • like ‘ca‘ in “car”

2.2 キ (ki)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana キ ki

Pronunciation of キ:

  • like ‘ki‘ in “kit”
  • like ‘ki‘ in “kiss”
  • like ‘ki‘ “kill”

2.3 ク (ku)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ク ku

Pronunciation of ク:

  • like ‘cou‘ in “cougar”
  • like ‘cu‘ in “cuckoo”
  • like ‘co‘ in “cool”

2.4 ケ (ke)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ケ ke

Pronunciation of ケ:

  • like ‘ke‘ in “kelp”
  • like ‘ke‘ in “Kentucky”
  • like ‘ke‘ in “Kelly”

2.5 コ (ko)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana コ ko

Pronunciation of コ:

  • like ‘ko‘ in “koala”
  • like ‘co‘ in “cobra”
  • like ‘co‘ in “corn”

3. S-Row: sa, shi, su, se, so


sa

shi

su

se

so

3.1 サ (sa)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana サ sa

Pronunciation of サ:

  • like ‘sa‘ in “sauna”
  • like ‘sa‘ in “sahara”
  • like ‘su‘ in “sun”

3.2 シ (shi)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana シ shi

Pronunciation of シ:

  • like ‘shi‘ in “shish”
  • like ‘shi‘ in “shift”
  • like ‘shi‘ in “Shiva”

3.3 ス (su)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ス su

Pronunciation of ス:

  • like ‘su‘ in “sushi”
  • like ‘su‘ in “surrender”
  • like ‘soo‘ in “soon”

3.4 セ (se)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana セ se

Pronunciation of セ:

  • like ‘se‘ in “self”
  • like ‘se‘ in “set”
  • like ‘se‘ in “send”

3.5 ソ (so)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ソ so

Pronunciation of ソ:

  • like ‘so
  • like ‘so‘ in “song”
  • like ‘so‘ in “soft”

4. T-Row: ta, chi, tsu, te, to


ta

chi

tsu

te

to

4.1 タ (ta)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana タ ta

Pronunciation of タ:

  • like ‘ta‘ in “target”
  • like ‘ta‘ in “Tarzan”
  • like ‘ta‘ in “tacos”

4.2 チ (chi)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana チ chi

Pronunciation of チ:

  • like ‘chi‘ in “chilly”
  • like ‘chi‘ in “chin”
  • like ‘chi‘ in “Tai chi

4.3 ツ (tsu)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ツ tsu

Pronunciation of ツ:

  • like ‘zu‘ in “Zumba”
  • like ‘zu‘ in “zucchini”
  • like ‘tsu‘ in “shiatsu

4.4 テ (te)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana テ te

Pronunciation of テ:

  • like ‘te‘ in “test”
  • like ‘te‘ in “temple”
  • like ‘te‘ in “text”

4.5 ト (to)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ト to

Pronunciation of ト:

  • like ‘to‘ in “top”
  • like ‘to‘ in “toss”
  • like ‘to‘ in “toggle”

5. N-Row: na, ni, nu, ne, no


na

ni

nu

ne

no

5.1 ナ (na)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ナ na

Pronunciation of ナ:

  • like ‘na‘ in “nan bread”
  • like ‘na‘ in “Narnia”
  • like ‘nu‘ in “number”

5.2 ニ (ni)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ニ ni

Pronunciation of ニ:

  • like ‘ni‘ in “ninja”
  • like ‘ni‘ in “Nixon”
  • like ‘nea‘ in “near”

5.3 ヌ (nu)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ヌ nu

Pronunciation of ヌ:

  • like ‘nu‘ in “kanu
  • like ‘nu‘ in “numerous”
  • like ‘nu‘ in “nutritious”

5.4 ネ (ne)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ネ ne

Pronunciation of ネ:

  • like ‘ne‘ in “next”
  • like ‘ne‘ in “nest”
  • like ‘ne‘ in “never”

5.5 ノ (no)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ノ no

Pronunciation of ノ:

  • like ‘no
  • like ‘no‘ in “normal”
  • like ‘no‘ in “non”

6. H-Row: ha, hi, fu, he, ho


ha

hi

fu

he

ho

6.1 ハ (ha)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ハ ha

Pronunciation of ハ:

  • like ‘ha‘ in “ha ha ha
  • like ‘ha‘ in “hard”
  • like ‘hu‘ in “hunter”

6.2 ヒ (hi)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ヒ hi

Pronunciation of ヒ:

  • like ‘hi‘ in “hint”
  • like ‘hi‘ in “Himalaya”
  • like ‘hy‘ in “hystery”

6.3 フ (fu)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana フ fu

Pronunciation of フ:

  • like ‘f‘ in “full”
  • like ‘f‘ in “fur”
  • like ‘ff‘ in “huff

6.4 ヘ (he)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ヘ he

Pronunciation of ヘ:

  • like ‘he‘ in “helicopter”
  • like ‘he‘ in “hesitant”
  • like ‘he‘ in “hell”

6.5 ホ (ho)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ホ ho

Pronunciation of ホ:

  • like ‘ho‘ in “ho ho ho
  • like ‘ho‘ in “hot”
  • like ‘ho‘ in “home”

7. M-Row: ma, mi, mu, me, mo


ma

mi

mu

me

mo

7.1 マ (ma)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana マ ma

Pronunciation of マ:

  • like ‘ma‘ in “mama”
  • like ‘ma‘ in “mark”
  • like ‘ma‘ in “mask”

7.2 ミ (mi)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ミ mi

Pronunciation of ミ:

  • like ‘mi‘ in “mist”
  • like ‘mi‘ in “milk”
  • like ‘mi‘ in “mix”

7.3 ム (mu)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ム mu

Pronunciation of ム:

  • like ‘moo
  • like ‘mo‘ in “movie”
  • like ‘moo‘ in “moon”

7.4 メ (me)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana メ me

Pronunciation of メ:

  • like ‘me‘ in “mess”
  • like ‘me‘ in “merry”
  • like ‘me‘ in “Mexico”

7.5 モ (mo)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana モ mo

Pronunciation of モ:

  • like ‘mo‘ in “moss”
  • like ‘mo‘ in “more”
  • like ‘mo‘ in “monster”

8. R-Row: ra, ri, ru, re, ro


ra

ri

ru

re

ro

8.1 ラ (ra)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ラ ra

Pronunciation of ラ:

  • like ‘la‘ in “large”
  • like ‘la‘ in “last”
  • like ‘la‘ in “lavender”

8.2 リ (ri)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana リ ri

Pronunciation of リ:

  • like ‘li‘ in “list”
  • like ‘li‘ in “limb”
  • like ‘li‘ in “lip”

8.3 ル (ru)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ル ru

Pronunciation of ル:

  • like ‘lu‘ in “luna”
  • like ‘lu‘ in “lucid”
  • like ‘lu‘ in “luminosity”

8.4 レ (re)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana レ re

Pronunciation of レ:

  • like ‘le‘ in “lend”
  • like ‘le‘ in “left”
  • like ‘le‘ in “lemon”

8.5 ロ (ro)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ロ ro

Pronunciation of ロ:

  • like ‘lo‘ in “lost”
  • like ‘lo‘ in “long”
  • like ‘lo‘ in “lock”

9. Y-Row: ya, yu, yo


ya

yu

yo


9.1 ヤ (ya)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ヤ ya

Pronunciation of ヤ:

  • like ‘ya‘ in “yard”
  • like ‘ya‘ in “yahoo”
  • like ‘ya‘ in “yakuza”

9.2 ユ (yu)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ユ yu

Pronunciation of ユ:

  • like ‘you
  • like ‘u‘ in “universe”
  • like ‘u‘ in “unicorn”

9.3 ヨ (yo)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ヨ yo

Pronunciation of ヨ:

  • like ‘yo‘ in “yo-yo”
  • like ‘yo‘ in “New York”
  • like ‘yo‘ in “yoghurt”

10. W-Row: wa, wo


wa

wo

10.1 ワ (wa)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ワ wa

Pronunciation of ワ:

  • like ‘wa‘ in “wand”
  • like ‘wa‘ in “waffle”
  • like ‘wi‘ in “wise”

10.2 ヲ (wo)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ヲ wo

Pronunciation of ヲ:

  • like ‘o‘ in “on”
  • like ‘wa‘ in “want”
  • like ‘wa‘ in “waltz”

11. N-Row: n


n




11.1 ン (n)

Learn to Read and Write Katakana ン n

Pronunciation of ン:

  • like ‘n‘ in “account”
  • like ‘n‘ in “Johnny”
  • like ‘n‘ in “want”