エ (e)
Pronunciation
The character エ represents the vowel 'e', identical in pronunciation to hiragana え — like the 'e' in 'pet'. Common in loanwords starting with 'e' (energy, error, area, etc.).
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
エ is written in three strokes. Stroke 1: a horizontal line at the top, written from left to right. Stroke 2: a short vertical line in the middle that descends from stroke 1. Stroke 3: a longer horizontal line at the bottom, written from left to right. The character forms a clean, geometric 'I' or 'H'-like shape with three straight strokes — visually distinct from the curving hiragana え.
Common Words with エ
- エアコン (eakon) — air conditioner
- エレベーター (erebeetaa) — elevator
- エネルギー (enerugii) — energy
- エリア (eria) — area
- エンジン (enjin) — engine
- エプロン (epuron) — apron
- エラー (eraa) — error
- エコ (eko) — eco / ecology
- エチケット (echiketto) — etiquette
- エッセイ (essei) — essay
- エメラルド (emerarudo) — emerald
- エキストラ (ekisutora) — extra (in films)
How to Write エ (e) in Katakana
The katakana character エ is romanized as "e" and is written with 3 strokes. Like "e" in "pet". Example word: エレベーター (erebeetaa) — elevator.
Stroke Order for エ
When writing エ, follow the numbered stroke order shown in the reference character above. Japanese characters are generally written from left to right and top to bottom. Correct stroke order improves readability and writing speed.
Practice Tips
- Print this sheet on standard 8.5" × 11" letter paper
- Start by tracing the light grey guide characters in the first column
- Then practice writing エ freehand in the empty squares
- Pay attention to stroke direction and order — follow the numbered guide
- For interactive practice with animations, visit the main study page
About Katakana
Katakana is one of the three Japanese writing systems. It consists of 46 basic characters, each representing a syllable. Katakana is used for foreign loanwords, scientific terms, and emphasis. Learning correct stroke order is essential for proper Japanese handwriting.