How to write イ (i) in katakana
イ (i) 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 伊 (“Italy”). It takes two short strokes: the first from the top going down and left, the last ending at the bottom. Loanwords that begin with it: イブ (“eve”), イン (“in”), イエス (“Jesus (Christ)”) and イオン (“ion”).
- Romaji
- i
- Strokes
- 2
- From
- 伊
- Hiragana
- い
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- 2
- topdown and left
- centerdownwards
Where イ comes from
- Katakana
- 伊, a part of the kanji
- Hiragana
- い from 以
The two scripts took this sound from different kanji, 伊 (“Italy”) and 以 (“by means of”).
Look-alikes
- ト, 2 strokes
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
Words with イ
593 common JMdict katakana words with it; ten shown.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| イブ | ibu | eve; the night before |
| イン | in | in; inside the line |
| イエス | iesu | Jesus (Christ) |
| イオン | ion | ion |
| イクラ | ikura | salted salmon roe |
| イズム | izumu | ism; -ism |
| イラク | iraku | Iraq |
| インキ | inki | ink |
| インク | inku | ink |
| インチ | inchi | inch |
Practice sheet
Print at 100%. Several kana: worksheet maker.
Keep going
Katakana, in chart order: