Katakana y row: ヤ ユ ヨ

The idea

ヤ ユ ヨ are read ya, yu, yo in Hepburn romanization. Their hiragana counterparts are や ゆ よ. Each full-size sign represents one mora; the chart pairs both scripts with the same readings.

Examples

• マヨネーズを使つかいます。I use mayonnaise.
• ユニフォームを着きます。I wear a uniform.
• ヤギを見みます。I look at a goat.
• ヨーグルトを食たべます。I eat yogurt.
• ヨガをします。I do yoga.
• ユリを見みます。I look at a lily.

Watch out

The modern basic y row has only ヤ, ユ and ヨ. Do not confuse these full-size signs with small ャ, ュ and ョ, which combine with a preceding kana.

Try it yourself

1. Write the katakana counterpart of や.

   Show answer or example answer

   ヤ

   ヤ and や represent the same sound, ya; the katakana form is ヤ.

2. Fill the blank with one katakana character: ＿ニフォーム (yunifōmu).

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   ユ

   ユ represents yu and completes ユニフォーム, read yunifōmu.

3. Fill the blank with one katakana character: ＿ーグルト (yōguruto).

   Show answer or example answer

   ヨ

   ヨ represents yo and completes ヨーグルト, read yōguruto.

Use it today

Cover the chart, read two example sentences aloud and write the target kana from memory. Then check the forms and sounds against the chart.