How to Pronounce Japanese Names

A is pronounced like the "a" in carp., I is pronounced like a long "e"., U is pronounced as "oo", it sounds like the "u" in super., E is said like the first "e" in everybody., O is said as "o"., Elongated vowels are important but are simple., R is...

12 Steps 1 min read Medium

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: A is pronounced like the "a" in carp.

    (Fact:
    Koi carp is a fish popular in Japan.)
  2. Step 2: I is pronounced like a long "e".

    Like in eat. (Eat that! I can speak Japanese properly!) , (Japanese is a super language!) , (Everybody can remember this) , However, it's very staccato.

    Think of it like you're about to say "Oh! This is easy!!" but get cut off in the middle of Oh. , If you see the same vowel twice in a row, then you have to make it longer(This is the difference between saying aunt, and grandmaAs well as uncle, and grandpa.

    If it's two different vowels, then you pronounce them both. , It's a mix between an English L, D, and R.

    It's almost flipped.

    I'd suggest watching this video. , It's somewhere in the middle of the English f and h sounds.(Like lightly huffing!) , You stop abruptly before the sound.

    Only for a VERY split second otherwise you'll just sound weird.

    It should be almost undetectable (This is why it's harder). , I's and U's are not pronounced when followed by a hard consonant.

    This also occurs at the end of a word.
  3. Step 3: U is pronounced as "oo"

  4. Step 4: it sounds like the "u" in super.

  5. Step 5: E is said like the first "e" in everybody.

  6. Step 6: O is said as "o".

  7. Step 7: Elongated vowels are important but are simple.

  8. Step 8: R is complicated.

  9. Step 9: F is very airy.

  10. Step 10: Double consonants are a little harder.

  11. Step 11: Silent I's

  12. Step 12: and U's.

Detailed Guide

(Fact:
Koi carp is a fish popular in Japan.)

Like in eat. (Eat that! I can speak Japanese properly!) , (Japanese is a super language!) , (Everybody can remember this) , However, it's very staccato.

Think of it like you're about to say "Oh! This is easy!!" but get cut off in the middle of Oh. , If you see the same vowel twice in a row, then you have to make it longer(This is the difference between saying aunt, and grandmaAs well as uncle, and grandpa.

If it's two different vowels, then you pronounce them both. , It's a mix between an English L, D, and R.

It's almost flipped.

I'd suggest watching this video. , It's somewhere in the middle of the English f and h sounds.(Like lightly huffing!) , You stop abruptly before the sound.

Only for a VERY split second otherwise you'll just sound weird.

It should be almost undetectable (This is why it's harder). , I's and U's are not pronounced when followed by a hard consonant.

This also occurs at the end of a word.

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