Foreign Words

1: Foreign Words in Katakana

Foreign words are commonly written in katakana in Japanese. When foreign words are adapted into katakana, the spelling is sometimes based on the original pronunciation and sometimes on the original spelling. Because of this, it is not always possible to predict exactly how a foreign word will appear in katakana. However, when you encounter a katakana word, you can often make a reasonable guess about the original foreign word by applying some basic patterns and rules. Caution: Katakana loanwords are pronounced in a fully Japanized way, so they may sound quite different from the original pronunciation in the source language. Below are some basic rules for guessing the original foreign words from katakana forms.

Rule 1:

If the word ends in "i", "u" or "o" sound, delete that sound.

バス basu → bas bus

マッチ matchi → match match

ホット hotto → hott hot

Rule 2:

If the word contains "r," change it to "l."

レール reeru → reel rail

Rule 3:

If the word contains "aa," change it to "ar," "er," "ir," "or," or "ur."

ターゲット taagetto → targett target

インターネット intaanetto → internett Internet

バード baado → bird bird

ドクター dokutaa → dokutor doctor

ハードル haadoru → hurdol hurdle

Rule 4:

If the word contains "s" or "sh," change it to "th" or "s."

サンキュー sankyuu → thankyuu thank you

シンクタンク shinkutanku → thinkutank think tank

シール shiiru → siil seal

Rule 5:

If the word contains "b," change it to "v."

ビデオ bideo → video video

Rule 6:

If the word contains "ji," change it to "zi" or "si."

ジッパー jippaa → zipper zipper

スージー suujii → suusii Susie

2: Special Katakana Spellings

To represent foreign sounds more closely, Japanese sometimes uses special katakana spellings. These spellings use small vowel characters (ァィゥェォ instead of the regular-sized アイウエオ) and, less commonly, a small ヮ. Caution: These special spellings are used only with katakana. Do not apply them to hiragana words.

シェ as in shell → シェル You type: sheru

ジェ as in jet → ジェット You type: jetto

チェ as in check → チェック You type: chekku

ティ as in tea → ティー You type: thi-

ディ as in diesel → ディーゼル You type: dhi-zeru

テュ as in tuba → テューバ You type: thu-ba

デュ as in dune → デューン You type: dhu-nn

ウィ as in Wimbledon → ウィンブルドン You type: winburudonn

ウェ as in waiter → ウェイター You type: weita-

ウォ as in watch → ウォッチ You type: whocchi

ヴァ as in van → ヴァン You type: vann

ヴィ as in David → ディヴィッド You type: dheividdo

ヴ as in Eve → イヴ You type: ivu

ヴェ as in vest → ヴェスト You type: vesuto

ヴォ as in Volvo → ヴォルヴォ You type: voruvo

イェ as in Yale → イェール You type: yie-ru

ファ as in farm → ファーム You type: fa-mu

フィ as in film → フィルム You type: firumu

フュ as in future → フューチャー You type: fyu-cha-

フェ as in cafeteria → カフェテリア You type: kafeteria

フォ as in form → フォーム You type: fo-mu

トゥ as in two → トゥー You type: twu-

ドゥ as in do → ドゥー You type: dwu-

ツァ as in Mozart → モーツァルト You type: mo-tsaruto

ツェ as in pretzel → プレッツェル You type: purettseru

ツォ as in cunzone → カンツォーネ You type: kantso-ne

クァ as in squash → スクァッシュ You type: suqasshu

クィ as in queen → クィーン You type: qi-nn

クェ as in square → スクェア You type: suqea

クォ as in quartz → クォーツ You type: qo-tu

スィ as in singer → スィンガー You type: swinga-

Note that the "f" sound in Japanese is pronounced without the upper teeth touching the lower lip. The sound is similar to the sound you make when you blow off a candle. We use katakana character フ for "f" as in ファ, フィ, フ, フェ, and フォ ("fa," "fi," "fu," "fe," and "fo," respectively). The "fyu" sound as in future is written as フュ. Some Japanese companies also use katakana to write their names (e.g., ソニー (Sony), パナソニック (Panasonic), トヨタ (Toyota), etc.） for public use even though their official names may be written in kanji.

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