How to write ル (ru) in katakana
ル (ru) never takes the voicing marks. Its shape keeps a part of the kanji 流 (“current”). It takes two short strokes: the first from the top left going downwards then down and left, the last ending at the right. Loanwords that begin with it: ルポ (“reportage”), ルー (“roux”), ルアー (“lure”) and ルクス (“lux (unit of illuminance)”).
- Romaji
- ru
- Strokes
- 2
- From
- 流
- Hiragana
- る
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- 2
- top leftdownwards → down and left
- topdownwards → up and right
Where ル comes from
- Katakana
- 流, a part of the kanji
- Hiragana
- る from 留
The two scripts took this sound from different kanji, 流 (“current”) and 留 (“detain”).
Look-alikes
- レ, 1 stroke
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
Words with ル
674 common JMdict katakana words with it; ten shown.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ルポ | rupo | reportage; report |
| ルー | ruu | roux; (Japanese) curry sauce |
| ルアー | ruaa | lure |
| ルクス | rukusu | lux (unit of illuminance) |
| ルック | rukku | look |
| ルビー | rubii | ruby; ruby character |
| ルンゲ | runge | lung; pulmonary tuberculosis |
| ルーズ | ruuzu | careless (with something, esp. time, money, promises, etc.); lax |
| ルーツ | ruutsu | roots; origin |
| ルート | ruuto | route; path |
Practice sheet
Print at 100%. Several kana: worksheet maker.
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Katakana, in chart order: