Rendering English Words

into Katakana

Caution
Not all words are converted
according to the following rule
( There are exceptions ).
Not all katakana words are from
English.
The words are formed according to
how Japanese hear and pronounce
the words.
Dont replace the original words in
the place of their katakana

1. Split the word into discrete

sounds
Memo

Tomato

Corona

Mania

Camera

me mo
to ma to
ko ro na
Ma ni a
Ka me ra

2. L sounds are replaced with R

sounds
Melon

Solo

me ro n
so ro

3. The V sound is generally replaced

by the B sound

Video

bi de o

4. D and t, when they do not have a vowel after

them, are usually replaced withdoandto

Hint

hi n to

5. The other single consonant sounds,

when they do not have a vowel after
them, are usually replaced with the
appropriate consonant followed by u

Mask

Post

Milk

Ma su ku
Po su to
mi ru ku

6. In words that contain an r sound after a vowel,

the katakana word usually just extends the vowel
sound
(-ar, -er, -ir, -ur, -or)

Car
Tanker
-
Girl
-
Curtain
-

ka ta n ka ga ru
ka te n

7. When two vowel sounds come together the second

extends the first vowel sound
(-ee-, -ea-, -ai-, -ou-, -oa-, -au-, -oo-)

Speed
-
Boat
-
Sauce
-

su pi do
bo to
so - su

8.When words with -all, -al-, -ol- appear the al or ol

sound is pronounced with the extended vowel sound

Call

Chalk
-
Old
-

ko ru
cho ku
o ru do

9.Similarly -w, -y sounds are also converted

as extension of the preceding vowel

Show
-
Salary
Copy
-

sho sa ra ri ko pi -

10. When words appear with-a-e, -o-e,

-u-e vowel pattern the is a extended sound between
them

Ace

Parade
Dome
-

e su
pa re do
do mu