Quick Pronunciation Guide

If you have studied Spanish, it may help you know that Japanese vowels are more like those of Spanish than English. The Following Vowels are short and pure, with no glide- that is, they are not diphthongs.

Japanese Vowel  English Equicalent     Example

a   As In Father   akai (ah-kah-ee) red

e   As in Men      ebi (eh-bee) Shrimp

i    As in See       imi (ee-mee) meaning

o   As in Boat     otoko (oh-toh-koh) male

u   As in Food    uma (oo-mah) horse

The Following vowels are like the onese above, but lenghthened.   _ means lengthened.

Macrons

A macron , or bar, above a vowel means it should be lengthened!

Japanese Vowel    English Equivalent    Example