Katakana 4: how English words become Japanese
The sound rules behind loanwords — and why they get shortened.要点The idea
Japanese syllables mostly end in a vowel, so English words get vowels added, and sounds swap to the nearest Japanese ones.ミルクmirukumilkmi-ru-ku: the l becomes ru and the k becomes ku.
ベッドbeddobedAfter d and t, the added vowel is o: beddo.
ゴルフgorufugolfgo-ru-fu: the l and the f each get a vowel.
テキストtekisutotextbook; textte-ki-su-to: x is k + s, and every consonant gets its own vowel.
| Rule | English | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Lone consonants get u (o after t and d, i after ch and j) | desk, bed, match | デスク, ベッド, マッチdesuku, beddo, matchi |
| A short vowel before a final p, t, k, d, g, ch or sh often adds ッ | cup, hot, check | カップ, ホット, チェックkappu, hotto, chekku |
| l and r both become r | lemon, rice | レモン, ライスremon, raisu |
| v usually becomes b | video, vest | ビデオ, ベストbideo, besuto |
| -er / -or / -ar become a long a | computer, doctor | コンピューター, ドクターkonpyuutaa, dokutaa |
| th becomes s or z | three, mother | スリー, マザーsurii, mazaa |
| ti / di: newer words use ティ / ディ, older ones チ / ジ | party, ticket, radio | パーティー, チケット, ラジオpaatii, chiketto, rajio |
Aバッグbaggubag
Bバックbakkuback
Then they get shortened
パソコンpasokoncomputer, PCFrom パーソナル・コンピューター.
コンビニkonbiniconvenience storeFrom コンビニエンスストア.
スマホsumahosmartphoneFrom スマートフォン.
エアコンeakonair conditionerFrom エアコンディショナー.