Katakana

Katakana is one of the alphabets used in Japan. It is most often used to transliterate non-Japanese words, and as most of these imported words are in English, you can have a good go at working out what they mean.

For example:

• Coca Cola is コカ・コーラ which represents "KoKa Koo Ra" (the "ー" lengthens the vowel.
• コーヒー ("kōhī") is "coffee",
• ビール ("Biru") represents beer.

Biru equals Beer

Cafe Sign with Pictures and Katakana

Here's a online "game" to test your Katakana Knowledge