How to pronounce kana
Say it like KAN-uh. Kana has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce kana. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAN
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kana pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of kana
American and British speakers say kana in essentially the same way: /ˈkænə/ in the US and /ˈkænə/ in the UK.
British respelling: KAN-uh.
What does kana mean?
- The hiragana and katakana syllabaries. These are made up of characters that represent individual syllables, which are used to write Japanese words and particles. Kana are derived from kanji.
- A hiragana or katakana character.
- Alternative form of kena.
Words that rhyme with kana
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of kana.
Questions about saying kana
How do you pronounce kana?
Say KAN-uh. The American pronunciation is /ˈkænə/. In British English it is /ˈkænə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kana?
Kana has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAN). Broken into parts: KAN · uh.
Do Americans and Brits say kana the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkænə/ and the British form is /ˈkænə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.