How to pronounce katakana
Say it like kat-uh-KAH-nuh. Katakana has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (KAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce katakana. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kat
- uh
- KAH
- nuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Katakana pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- katGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- KAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of katakana
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: kat-uh-KAN-uh.
What does katakana mean?
- A Japanese syllabary used when writing words borrowed from foreign languages other than Chinese, specific names of plants and animals and other jargon, onomatopoeia, or to emphasize a word or phrase. Also used to write the Ainu language.
- A character thereof.
Words that rhyme with katakana
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of katakana.
Questions about saying katakana
How do you pronounce katakana?
Say kat-uh-KAH-nuh. The American pronunciation is /ˌkætəˈkɑnə/. In British English it is /ˌkætəˈkænə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in katakana?
Katakana has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (KAH). Broken into parts: kat · uh · KAH · nuh.
Is katakana pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˌkætəˈkænə/ (kat-uh-KAN-uh).