Recognise カ キ ク ケ コ in Katakana, then read them in useful words and sentences. Each kana has a sound; the table links the written form to its reading.

The idea

カ キ ク ケ コ are ka, ki, ku, ke and ko. Adding dakuten changes them to the voiced g row: ガ ギ グ ゲ ゴ. In ケーキ (kēki), ー lengthens the preceding vowel; a common IME input is ke-ki.

Patterns to compare
KanaReading (romaji)
カka
キki
クku
ケke
コko

Examples

  • カメラを買かいます。I buy a camera.
  • キムチを食たべます。I eat kimchi.
  • クラスは楽たのしいです。The class is fun.
  • ケーキを食たべます。I eat cake.
  • コーヒーを飲のみます。I drink coffee.
  • このカップは青あおいです。This cup is blue.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

カ and ガ differ by the two dakuten marks, which change ka to ga. The long mark ー is part of the spelling and lengthens the previous vowel; it is not a hyphen to omit.

Try it yourself

  1. Fill the blank with one Katakana character: ＿メラ (kamera).

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    カ

    カ represents ka; カメラ is read kamera.

  2. Fill the blank with one Katakana character: ＿ムチ (kimuchi).

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    キ

    キ represents ki; キムチ is read kimuchi.

  3. Fill the blank with one Katakana character: ＿ラス (kurasu).

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    ク

    ク represents ku; クラス is read kurasu.

  4. Write kēki in Katakana.

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    ケーキ

    ケーキ is read kēki: ケ = ke; ー = lengthens e; キ = ki.

Use it today

Cover the table and read two example sentences aloud. Write one word from memory, then check each target kana against the table.