Small っ and ッ: doubled consonants

The idea

Small っ or ッ marks an extra mora before the following consonant: きって is ki-t-te and カップ is ka-p-pu. Hold the closure before k, t or p, or lengthen the s-like sound before し; do not pronounce a separate tsu.

Examples

• きっぷを買かいます。I buy a ticket.
• がっこうへ行いきます。I go to school.
• ざっしを読よみます。I read a magazine.
• きってを買かいます。I buy a postage stamp.
• ゆっくり日本語にほんごで話はなしてください。Please speak Japanese slowly.
• このカップは青あおいです。This cup is blue.

Watch out

っ is smaller than つ. Omitting it changes the timing and can change the word, as in きて and きって.

Try it yourself

1. Fill the blank with one kana or mark: き＿ぷ (kippu).

   Show answer or example answer

   っ

   Compare the written parts and reading: き + っ + ぷ = kippu.

2. Fill the blank with one kana or mark: ざ＿し (zasshi).

   Show answer or example answer

   っ

   Compare the written parts and reading: ざ + っ + し = zasshi.

3. Fill the blank with one kana or mark: カ＿プ (kappu).

   Show answer or example answer

   ッ

   Compare the written parts and reading: カ + ッ + プ = kappu.

Use it today

Cover the chart, read two examples aloud and write one target word from memory. Compare its spelling and timing with the original.