Phase 0 · 8 min
The five vowels
あ い う え お — every sound starts here
Every Japanese sound ends in one of five pure vowels. They never glide like English vowels do. Say each one short and clean, then hold it for two beats: that is a long vowel, and it changes the meaning of the word.
| あ aa a | Jaw open, tongue low | Like 'father', clipped |
| い ii i | Lips spread, tongue high-front | Like 'see', clipped |
| う uu u | Lips flat and relaxed | NOT 'oo': no rounding |
| え ee e | Mid-open | Like 'bed', never 'day' |
| お oo o | Lips slightly rounded | Like 'or', no 'ow' glide |
From Urdu
あ = short ا as in کم (kam), never the long آ. い = zer (ِ) as in دِل. う = pesh (ُ) as in گُل, but with FLAT lips. え = the ے in بے. お = the و in کو. Short vowels are short; that is the whole trick.
From Thai
Thai already trains you for this: vowel length changes meaning (ขัน bowl vs ขาน answer). Japanese does the same with おばさん vs おばあさん. Keep short vowels as short as Thai ะ vowels.
Long vowels change meaning
おばさん / おばあさん
obasan / obaasan
aunt / grandmother
The second あ makes ばあ two beats long.
ここ / こうこう
koko / koukou
here / high school
おう is pronounced as a long おお.
From Urdu
Japanese consonants: か-row k is unaspirated like ک, not کھ. た-row is dental like ت, never retroflex ٹ. ら-row r is a single tap like ر between vowels. ふ is blown through the lips like putting out a candle, not the ف of فون.
Check yourself
1 / 6
い
6 cards
Add them to spaced repetition
Cards in this lesson (6)
あ
a
a: jaw open, tongue low
い
i
i: lips spread, like 'ee' clipped
う
u
u: flat lips, no rounding
え
e
e: like 'bed'
お
o
o: light rounding, no glide
おばあさん
obaasan
grandmother (long あ)