Vowel Row
Katakana 1
Chapter 2 · The Vowel Row: E O
🌿 Completing the Vowels — エ と オ
Two characters to go and the vowel row is done. Today you'll learn エ (e) and オ (o), see all five vowels with their hiragana twins, and read your first real katakana word. Romaji is shown for everything.
✨ Your Next Two Characters — エ オ
Remember: Japanese vowels are short, clean and steady, with no gliding.
🔤 The Complete Vowel Row — 母音
| Katakana | Hiragana twin | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| ア | あ | a |
| イ | い | i |
| ウ | う | u |
| エ | え | e |
| オ | お | o |
Say the row in order, a-i-u-e-o, until it feels natural. Every other katakana in the course is built on one of these five vowel sounds.
📖 Read It — Your First Katakana Word
Only one common loanword fits the five vowels, so the rest of the list is sound drills. From Chapter 3 the word lists grow fast.
| # | Characters | Romaji | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | エア | ea | air | from English air; you'll see it in エアコン (air conditioner) later |
| 2 | アエ | ae | (drill) | a sound drill: "ah-eh" |
| 3 | エイ | ei | (drill) | a drill: "eh-ee" |
| 4 | ウエ | ue | (drill) | a drill: "oo-eh" |
| 5 | オア | oa | (drill) | a drill: "oh-ah" |
| 6 | アオイ | aoi | (drill) | a three-beat drill |
| 7 | オイウ | oiu | (drill) | a three-beat drill |
✍️ Try It Yourself — れんしゅう
Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.
1. Which sound does エ make, and which does オ make?
Show answer
エ = e ("eh"); オ = o ("oh").
2. Say the five katakana vowels in order: ア イ ウ エ オ
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a · i · u · e · o
3. Match each hiragana to its katakana twin: え, お.
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え→エ · お→オ
4. Read aloud and translate: エア
Show answer
ea: air.
5. Read aloud: アエ · ウエ · アオイ
Show answer
ae · ue · aoi
6. Write in katakana: ea · oa · aoi (check the stroke order).
Show answer
エア · オア · アオイ