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Lesson 1: Hiragana Vowels

Why This Lesson

Every Japanese word is built from vowel sounds. Without mastering these 5 sounds, you cannot read or speak any Japanese correctly. This is your absolute foundation.

Goal

Hear, recognize, and pronounce the 5 Japanese vowels (あ い う え お) with correct mouth shape and tone.

What You Gain

After finishing this lesson, you can identify all 5 vowel sounds by ear and reproduce them. Every hiragana character you learn next builds on these sounds.

The 5 Japanese Vowels

Click the play button to hear each vowel pronounced by a native speaker. Listen carefully — Japanese vowels are pure and short, unlike English diphthongs.

あ a Like "ah" in "father"
い i Like "ee" in "feet"
う u Like "oo" in "food" but lips relaxed
え e Like "e" in "pen"
お o Like "o" in "go" but shorter

Practice: Listen & Identify

Play the audio and select the correct vowel.

1. Listen and identify:
あ (a)
い (i)
う (u)
え (e)
2. Listen and identify:
あ (a)
う (u)
お (o)
え (e)
3. Listen and identify:
あ (a)
お (o)
い (i)
え (e)
4. Listen and identify:
あ (a)
う (u)
お (o)
い (i)
5. Listen and identify:
え (e)
い (i)
う (u)
あ (a)
Next: K-row & S-row →