Katakana Practice Test With Answers
Practice katakana with common loan words, long vowels, small ッ, and lookalike characters. Includes answers and explanations.
Free katakana quiz
Practice First, Then Review
This katakana practice test focuses on loan words, long vowels, small ッ, and the lookalike characters that trip up nearly every beginner.
What This Practice Page Trains
Loan words
Read Japanese English Words
Practice common words like コーヒー, タクシー, ホテル, and コンピューター.
Accuracy
Fix Lookalike Confusion
Drill シ vs ツ and ソ vs ン until the stroke direction becomes obvious.
Output
Write Katakana From Sound
Convert familiar English words into Japanese-style katakana spelling.
Part 1: Read the Katakana
Read each word out loud. Pay attention to long vowels marked with ー.
Question 1
コーヒー
A drink.
Question 2
タクシー
Transportation.
Question 3
ホテル
Travel word.
Question 4
サッカー
Sport with small ッ.
Question 5
コンピューター
Technology word.
Part 2: Write in Katakana
Convert the English word into katakana. Use Japanese pronunciation, not English spelling.
Question 1
pizza
Two kana.
Question 2
camera
Three kana.
Question 3
menu
Uses long vowel mark.
Question 4
internet
Longer tech word.
Question 5
ice cream
Two-part loan word.
Answer Key and Explanations
1. コーヒー = koohii, coffee
The ー mark lengthens the vowel before it. コー is a long ko sound.
2. タクシー = takushii, taxi
Japanese adds vowels to fit its sound system, so taxi becomes ta-ku-shii.
3. ホテル = hoteru, hotel
English L often becomes a Japanese R-like sound.
4. サッカー = sakkaa, soccer
Small ッ creates a short pause or doubled consonant before カ.
5. コンピューター = konpyuutaa, computer
Small ュ combines with ピ to make pyu, and ー lengthens the vowel.
6. pizza = ピザ
ピ is pi and ザ is za.
7. camera = カメラ
Camera becomes kamera in Japanese pronunciation.
8. menu = メニュー
メ is me, ニュ is nyu, and ー lengthens the final sound.
9. internet = インターネット
The small ッ doubles the t sound before ト.
10. ice cream = アイスクリーム
アイス is ice and クリーム is cream with a long vowel.
How to Use This Practice
- Answer once without notes, even if you are unsure.
- Check the explanation, not only the answer.
- Rewrite every missed item by hand or type it twice.
- Repeat the same set tomorrow before learning new material.
Common Mistakes
Missing long vowels
Treat ー as part of the word. コヒ and コーヒー do not feel the same to Japanese readers.
Mixing シ and ツ
シ strokes flow more horizontally upward; ツ strokes drop more vertically. Write them side by side.
Writing English spelling
Katakana follows Japanese pronunciation. Think sound first, spelling second.
Keep Practicing on QuizLingua
Make katakana feel automatic
Katakana is easiest when you practice real loan words, not isolated chart rows forever.
Start Katakana QuizPractice This Topic
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