...OK, longer version: Japanese may be hard overall, but few languages are easier to pronounce.
・The consonants are the same as ours, except for "r" (which is a tap on the roof of the mouth). But you can just pronounce it like an English "r" at restaurants or wherever you're trying to be cool. Otherwise, you'll go too far and be like the asshole ordering a "chhhaassaw" when everyone knows what they really want is a "cross-ant."
・The mere five vowel sounds are the same as Spanish. If you don't speak any Spanish, that's OK, because you do.
"Hola, Julio."
"Adios, Jose."
°˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖° PRACTICE TIME (((o(ﾟ▽ﾟ)o)))
How do you pronounce the following Japanese words correctly?
- sushi
- samurai
- Pokémon
- konnichiwa (hello)
- ebi (shrimp)
ANSWERS
- As people normally do. The "u" is as in "Julio" and the "i" is as in "Julio."
- Not like people normally do. Slap them. Both "a" sounds are as in "adios." The "u" and "i" are as in "Julio."
- As children and Millennials normally do. Each "o" is as in "hola" and the "é" is as in "Jose."
- As people kinda normally do. Get the idea at this point! DO YOU?! The "o" is as in "hola." Each "i" and the "a" are as in "adios."
- A common word to encounter in sushi restaurants. The "e" lacks the accent mark of "Pokémon," but it's the same. Japanese has only five vowel sounds. There are no other "e" sounds around to choose from. --and the "i" is as in "adios."
So now you know how to pronounce Japanese. Yes, it's really this simple. These five vowels sounds are always the same: a, i, u, e, o. If you forget, just think: "Hola, Julio." "Adios, Jose." These four words contain every vowel sound in Japanese.
This is fabulous! I took Spanish in High school so this article makes it easy for me to pronounce Japanese words properly. But even for those who don't know Spanish, this guide spells it out in easy to understand terms. Thanks for this!