Two subtle features of Japanese pronunciation — the small pause of consonants, and the stretched sound of long vowels — can change a word’s meaning entirely. Let’s learn how they work.
Imagine you're in a suspenseful movie, and there's that momentary pause that makes your heart skip a beat. That's what double consonants are in Japanese. They're like tiny, suspenseful hiccups in words that add a whole layer of drama.
Take "がっこう (gakkou - school)." Without the double 'k', it would just be a boring old 'gakou.' But with that extra 'k', suddenly, it's 'gak-kou' a word with a bit more punch, a bit more oomph. It's the linguistic version of adding an extra shot of espresso to your morning coffee - small but mighty!
Use a little っ before the consonant character to make it a double consonant.
V
o
w
e
l
s
L
o
n
g
Now, let's switch gears to long vowels. If double consonants are the dramatic pauses, long vowels are like stretching a rubber band, elongating the sound until you think it might just snap.
Consider "おばあさん (obaasan - grandmother)." If you don't stretch the 'a', you might end up calling someone "おばさん (obasan - aunt)," and oh boy, can that lead to some awkward family reunions.
The “o” vowel sound at the end of characters like こ・そ・と・も, etc. is extended with う.
Example: もう → mō, meaning “already” (note: no separate “u” sound).
The “eh” vowel sound is extended with い.
Example: えいが → ēiga, meaning “movie” (note: no separate “i” sound).
If a Japanese word contains a single “n” followed by な・に・ぬ・ね・の, you shouldn't combine the “n” with the next character.
Example: こんにちは → konnichiwa, not "ko nichiwa."
Think of it like double letters in English, but even more distinct and important — compare “hello” vs “helo.”
✅ kon'nichiwa
❌ ko nichiwa
Paused consonants and long vowels can be tricky for English speakers. Japanese pronunciation is usually straightforward, but these small timing differences are crucial — they can change a word’s meaning entirely. You’ll get more comfortable with them as you listen and practice.
Paused consonants and long vowels may look small, but they shape the rhythm of Japanese speech. Getting them right makes your words sound natural and accurate.
Treat double consonants like a hiccup, and long vowels like you're laying down at the dentist with your mouth open. Practice these scenarios, and your pronunciation will surely sound much more natural... Probably.
You've now got 100% coverage of every sound in Japanese!