第9課Lesson 9 of 16
R row
English l and r both land on this row, so a word like "rule" comes out as ルール. Every one of these is a quick tap of the tongue, like the "tt" in butter.
ラリルレロ
All lessonsPronunciation
How it sounds
The Japanese r is one quick tap of the tongue on the ridge behind your upper teeth, like the tt in American butter. Both English r and l use it, which is why curry (カレー) and hotel (ホテル) share a row.
Reading tips
Easy to mix up
ル and レ: ル is two strokes and レ is just the second of them.
リ and ル: リ's two strokes run side by side; ル's second stroke kicks up at the bottom.
ラ and フ (lesson 6): ラ has a short extra bar on top.
ロ is a square, unlike the open コ (lesson 2). It looks just like the kanji 口, “mouth”.
New kana
Picture each shape, then say it.
A Robber in a hat and mask. Say "ra" with a quick tap of the tongue.
Reach high with both arms up. Say "ree".
A Rhubarb stalk, with the kana as its stem. Say "roo".
A Referee whistle, with the kana along its side. Say "re".
A Road sign: the kana is its square frame.
Real vocabulary
Words you can read now
- カメラkameracamera
- ホテルhoteruhotel
- トイレtoiretoilet
- カレーkarēcurry
- ロシアroshiaRussia
- アイスクリームaisukurīmuice cream