Basic Sounds Flashcards
(46 cards)
あ
a - あい (ai) - ‘ah-ee’ (love)
Open your mouth wide, place the tongue low, and say “ah” (like in “car”).
い
i - いぬ (inu) - ‘ee-noo’ (dog)
Smile slightly, tongue touches the bottom of upper teeth, say “ee” (like in “see”).
う
u - うみ (umi) - ‘oo-mee’ (sea)
Lips are rounded but not as much as English “oo”, say “oo” (like in “food”, but unrounded).
え
e - えき (eki) - ‘eh-kee’ (station)
Keep the mouth half-open, tongue slightly raised, say “eh” (like in “bet”).
お
o - おかね (okane) - ‘oh-kah-neh’ (money)
Lips are rounded, but not as strong as English “oh”, say “oh” (like in “go”).
か
ka - かさ (kasa) - ‘kah-sah’ (umbrella)
Hard “k” sound, like “car”.
き
ki - きた (kita) - ‘kee-tah’ (north)
“Key” but shorter and sharper.
く
ku - くるま (kuruma) - ‘koo-roo-mah’ (car)
Like “coo”, but without lip rounding.
け
ke - けしごむ (keshigomu) - ‘keh-shee-goh-mu’ (eraser)
Like “kettle”, but without diphthong.
こ
ko - ことば (kotoba) - ‘koh-toh-bah’ (word)
Like “coat”, but shorter and without rounding.
さ
sa - さくら (sakura) - ‘sah-koo-rah’ (cherry blossom)
Like “salsa”, clear “s” sound.
し
shi - しろ (shiro) - ‘shee-roh’ (white)
Similar to “she”, but the tongue is flatter.
す
su - すし (sushi) - ‘soo-shee’ (sushi)
Like “sue”, but no rounding of lips.
せ
se - せんせい (sensei) - ‘sehn-seh-ee’ (teacher)
Like “set”, no diphthong.
そ
so - そら (sora) - ‘soh-rah’ (sky)
Like “soap”, but no w-like glide.
た
ta - たべる (taberu) - ‘tah-beh-roo’ (to eat)
Like “top”, but softer.
ち
chi - ちいさい (chiisai) - ‘chee-ee-sigh’ (small)
Like “cheese”, softer ch sound.
つ
tsu - つき (tsuki) - ‘tsoo-kee’ (moon)
Like “tsunami”, a “t” followed by “s”.
て
te - てがみ (tegami) - ‘teh-gah-mee’ (letter)
Like “ten”, no aspiration.
と
to - ともだち (tomodachi) - ‘toh-moh-dah-chee’ (friend)
Like “toe”, but shorter and sharper.
な
na - なつ (natsu) - ‘nah-tsoo’ (summer)
Like “nacho”, nasal sound.
に
ni - にほん (Nihon) - ‘nee-hon’ (Japan)
Like “canyon”, soft “ny” sound.
ぬ
nu - ぬいぐるみ (nuigurumi) - ‘noo-ee-goo-roo-mee’ (stuffed toy)
Like “new”, no lip rounding.
ね
ne - ねこ (neko) - ‘neh-koh’ (cat)
Like “net”, short and clear.
