How to write ウ (u) in katakana
ウ (u) 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 宇 (“eaves”). It takes three short strokes: the first from the top going downwards, the last ending at the bottom. Loanwords that begin with it: ウェア (“wear”), ウェイ (“way”), ウェブ (“web”) and ウォン (“won…”).
- Romaji
- u
- Strokes
- 3
- From
- 宇
- Hiragana
- う
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- 2
- 3
- topdownwards
- top leftdownwards
- top leftrightwards → down and left
Where ウ comes from
- Katakana
- 宇, a part of the kanji
- Hiragana
- う from 宇
Here both scripts start from the same kanji, 宇 (“eaves”).
Look-alikes
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
With voicing marks
Base kana first, then the marks at the top right.
Words with ウ
154 common JMdict katakana words with it; ten shown.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ウェア | uea | wear; clothing |
| ウェイ | uei | way |
| ウェブ | uebu | web; World Wide Web |
| ウォン | uon | won (currency of North Korea and South Korea) |
| ウッド | uddo | wood; wood (club) |
| ウラン | uran | uranium (U) |
| ウンチ | unchi | poo; poop |
| ウール | uuru | wool |
| ウィーク | uiiku | week |
| ウイルス | uirusu | virus |
Practice sheet
Print at 100%. Several kana: worksheet maker.
Keep going
Katakana, in chart order: