How to write ア (a) in katakana
ア (a) is a katakana vowel, and small versions of the vowels turn up in loanwords to make new sounds. Its shape keeps a part of the kanji 阿 (“nook”). It takes two short strokes: the first from the top left going rightwards then down and left, the last ending at the bottom left. Loanwords that begin with it: アド (“ad”), アナ (“announcer”), アマ (“amateur”) and アイス (“ice”).
- Romaji
- a
- Strokes
- 2
- From
- 阿
- Hiragana
- あ
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- 2
- top leftrightwards → down and left
- centerdownwards
Where ア comes from
- Katakana
- 阿, a part of the kanji
- Hiragana
- あ from 安
The two scripts took this sound from different kanji, 阿 (“nook”) and 安 (“peaceful”).
Look-alikes
- マ, 2 strokes
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
Words with ア
405 common JMdict katakana words with it; ten shown.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| アド | ado | ad; advertisement |
| アナ | ana | announcer |
| アマ | ama | amateur |
| アイス | aisu | ice; ice cream |
| アイヌ | ainu | Ainu |
| アウト | auto | out; outside the line |
| アジア | ajia | Asia |
| アジト | ajito | hideout; secret base of operations |
| アット | atto | @ sign; at sign |
| アップ | appu | rise; increase |
Practice sheet
Print at 100%. Several kana: worksheet maker.
Keep going
Katakana, in chart order: