ウ (u)
Pronunciation
The character ウ represents the vowel 'u', identical in pronunciation to hiragana う — close to 'oo' in 'food' but with relaxed lips. Common in loanwords, particularly those starting with a 'w' or 'u' sound. The small ゥ form is used in extended katakana like ウィ (wi) and ウェ (we).
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
ウ is written in three strokes. Stroke 1: a short downward dot or accent at the very top. Stroke 2: a horizontal line just below stroke 1, written from left to right. Stroke 3: a long curving stroke that descends from the right end of stroke 2, curves to the left at the bottom, and ends with a small inward hook on the lower left. The shape forms a kind of inverted hook with an accent.
Common Words with ウ
- ウクライナ (ukuraina) — Ukraine
- ウィスキー (uィsukii) — whiskey
- ウェブ (uェbu) — web (internet)
- ウール (uuru) — wool
- ウクレレ (ukurere) — ukulele
- ハウス (hausu) — house
- マウス (mausu) — mouse (computer)
- ニュース (nyuusu) — news
- パウダー (paudaa) — powder
- アウト (auto) — out (sports / baseball)
- ウィルス (uィrusu) — virus
- ウォッカ (uォkka) — vodka
How to Write ウ (u) in Katakana
The katakana character ウ is romanized as "u" and is written with 3 strokes. Like "oo" in "food", but with unrounded lips. Example word: ウイルス (uirusu) — virus.
Stroke Order for ウ
When writing ウ, 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 ウ 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.