Japanese Consonants: How to Pronounce わ

Japanese Letter わ

Description of the Japanese Pronunciation わ

Picture describing Japanese pronunciation [w]

わ consists of the Japanese consonant [w] with the Japanese vowel [a]. When you pronounce [w], you are going to purse your lips and then quickly move them into the shape of the upcoming vowel [a]. When you purse your lips, simultaneously the back part of your tongue will raise up close to the back of the roof of your mouth. [w] is a voiced sound.

Does it make sense to you? Let's try to pronounce わ after the tutor on the video!

Wasabi Japanese Pronunciation Lessons

Words Exercise with the Pronunciation [w] わ

Please repeat the following words after the tutor on the video.

Words Roman Letters Meanings
wa ru to break, to split, to divide
わたし wa ta shi I
わかい wa ka i young
かる wa ka ru to understand
わすれる wa su re ru to forget
にわ ni wa yard, garden
かわ ka wa river
おわる o wa ru to finish, to end
かわいい ka wa i i  cute
ちゃわん cha wa n rise bowl

Sentences Exercise with the Pronunciation [w] わ

Please repeat the following sentences after the tutor in the video.

Japanese Sentences English Translations
わたしわすれものがおおいです。 I often forget my things.
わかくてかわいい女性じょせいがいます。 There is a cute, young girl.
茶碗ちゃわんりました。 I broke a rice bowl.

Tongue Twister Exercise with the Pronunciation [w] わ

Please repeat the following tongue twisters after the tutor on the video. Also, please focus on the pronunciation practice, not the meaning, because they were made only for the sake of practice.

Japanese Tongue Twisters Vocabulary

わたしはかわいい、わたしはかわいい、わたしかわいい。

かわいい: cute

にわには二羽にわにわとりがいる。

にわ: yard, garden 二羽にわ: 2 birds, にわとり: chicken

わたしはワニがわうわわたす。

ワニ: crocodile, かわ: leather, うわ: jacket, coat わたす: to give

Conclusion

This is the how to pronounce [w] わ . We recommend that you practice the sentences above at least 5 times for each exercise, though we understand that pronunciation practice can be dull. Good pronunciation will give you listening and speaking ability, and thereby you will be confident enough to speak Japanese with native speakers. Thus, the ability you gain is well worth the time spent. We are looking forward to seeing you in the next lesson; [m] [ŋ] [N] [n] ん.

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