ア
Sounds like – ah
Stroke Order
イ
Sounds like – ee
Stroke Order
ウ
Sounds like – ew
Stroke Order
エ
Sounds like – eh
Stroke Order
オ
Sounds like – the “o” in “boat”
Stroke Order
カ
Sounds like – ka
Stroke Order
キ
Sounds like – kee
Stroke Order
ク
Sounds like – koo
Stroke Order
ケ
Sounds like – keh
Stroke Order
コ
Sounds like – koh
Stroke Order
サ
Sounds like – sa
Stroke Order
シ
Sounds like – she
Stroke Order
ス
Sounds like – soo
Stroke Order
セ
Sounds like – se
Stroke Order
ソ
Sounds like – so
Stroke Order
タ
Sounds like – ta
Stroke Order
チ
Sounds like – chee
Stroke Order
ツ
Sounds like – tsu
Stroke Order
テ
Sounds like – teh
Stroke Order
ト
Sounds like – toh
Stroke Order
ナ
Sounds like – na
Stroke Order
ニ
Sounds like – nee
Stroke Order
ヌ
Sounds like – noo
Stroke Order
ネ
Sounds like – neh
Stroke Order
ノ
Sounds like – no
Stroke Order
ハ
Sounds like – ha
Stroke Order
ヒ
Sounds like – he
Stroke Order
フ
Sounds like – a very soft “fu” sound, like you’re blowing out a candle
Stroke Order
ヘ
Sounds like – heh
Stroke Order
ホ
Sounds like – ho
Stroke Order
マ
Sounds like – ma
Stroke Order
ミ
Sounds like – mee
Stroke Order
ム
Sounds like – moo
Stroke Order
メ
Sounds like – meh
Stroke Order
モ
Sounds like – mo
Stroke Order
ラ
Sounds like – rah
Stroke Order
リ
Sounds like – ree
Stroke Order
ル
Sounds like – roo
Stroke Order
レ
Sounds like – reh
Stroke Order
ロ
Sounds like – ro
Stroke Order
ヤ
Sounds like – yah
Stroke Order
ユ
Sounds like – yoo/you
Stroke Order
ワ
Sounds like – wah
Stroke Order
ヲ
Sounds like – wo
Stroke Order
ン
Sounds like – n
Stroke Order
Additional Sounds
Although we have covered all the distinct characters in katakana, there are additional variations and sounds that still remain.
Voiced Consonants
K → G
| Unvoiced | Voiced |
|---|---|
| カ (ka) | ガ (ga) |
| キ (ki) | ギ (gi) |
| ク (ku) | グ (gu) |
| ケ (ke) | ゲ (ge) |
| コ (ko) | ゴ (go) |
S → Z
| Unvoiced | Voiced |
|---|---|
| サ (sa) | ザ (za) |
| シ (shi) | ジ (ji) |
| ス (su) | ズ (zu) |
| セ (se) | ゼ (ze) |
| ソ (so) | ゾ (zo) |
T → D
| Unvoiced | Voiced |
|---|---|
| タ (ta) | ダ (da) |
| チ (chi) | ヂ (ji)* |
| ツ (tsu) | ヅ (zu)* |
| テ (te) | デ (de) |
| ト (to) | ド (do) |
(*Note: ヂ and ヅ are rare and mostly appear in specific words or names.)
H → B
| Unvoiced | Voiced |
|---|---|
| ハ (ha) | バ (ba) |
| ヒ (hi) | ビ (bi) |
| フ (fu) | ブ (bu) |
| ヘ (he) | ベ (be) |
| ホ (ho) | ボ (bo) |
H → P (Handakuten ゜)
| H-Sound | P-Sound |
|---|---|
| ハ (ha) | パ (pa) |
| ヒ (hi) | ピ (pi) |
| フ (fu) | プ (pu) |
| ヘ (he) | ペ (pe) |
| ホ (ho) | ポ (po) |
Katakana Y-Vowel Sounds
Katakana Y-vowel sounds are created by combining katakana from the I-row with small ヤ (ャ), ユ (ュ), or ヨ (ョ). These make a smoother, single sound.
K-Line
| Base Sound | + ヤ → | + ユ → | + ヨ → |
|---|
| キ (ki) | キャ (kya) | キュ (kyu) | キョ (kyo) |
S- Line
| Base Sound | + ヤ → | + ユ → | + ヨ → |
|---|
| シ (shi) | シャ (sha) | シュ (shu) | ショ (sho) |
T- Line
| Base Sound | + ヤ → | + ユ → | + ヨ → |
|---|
| チ (chi) | チャ (cha) | チュ (chu) | チョ (cho) |
N- Line
| Base Sound | + ヤ → | + ユ → | + ヨ → |
|---|
| ニ (ni) | ニャ (nya) | ニュ (nyu) | ニョ (nyo) |
H- Line
| Base Sound | + ヤ → | + ユ → | + ヨ → |
|---|
| ヒ (hi) | ヒャ (hya) | ヒュ (hyu) | ヒョ (hyo) |
M- Line
| Base Sound | + ヤ → | + ユ → | + ヨ → |
|---|
| ミ (mi) | ミャ (mya) | ミュ (myu) | ミョ (myo) |
R- Line
| Base Sound | + ヤ → | + ユ → | + ヨ → |
|---|
| リ (ri) | リャ (rya) | リュ (ryu) | リョ (ryo) |
G- Line (Voiced K- Line)
| Base Sound | + ヤ → | + ユ → | + ヨ → |
|---|
| ギ (gi) | ギャ (gya) | ギュ (gyu) | ギョ (gyo) |
Z- Line (Voiced S- Line)
| Base Sound | + ヤ → | + ユ → | + ヨ → |
|---|
| ジ (ji) | ジャ (ja) | ジュ (ju) | ジョ (jo) |
B- Line (Voiced H- Line)
| Base Sound | + ヤ → | + ユ → | + ヨ → |
|---|
| ビ (bi) | ビャ (bya) | ビュ (byu) | ビョ (byo) |
P- Line (Handakuten H- Line)
| Base Sound | + ヤ → | + ユ → | + ヨ → |
|---|
| ピ (pi) | ピャ (pya) | ピュ (pyu) | ピョ (pyo) |