Hiragana か-row (K-sounds)

Characters

Hiragana	Katakana	Romaji	Meaning
か	カ	ka	mosquito
き	キ	ki	tree
く	ク	ku	mouth
け	ケ	ke	hair
こ	コ	ko	child

Hiragana か-row (K-sounds)

Introduction

The か-row introduces the first set of consonant sounds in Hiragana, combining the 'k' consonant with the five core vowels. Mastering this row is a foundational step, as these sounds are extremely common in basic vocabulary and grammatical particles. The pronunciation is a clear, unaspirated 'k' sound, similar to the 'k' in "skate" rather than the aspirated 'k' in "kite."

The か-row Characters

Hiragana	Romaji	Mnemonic (Optional)	Example Word
か	ka	A car with a sideways view mirror.	かさ(kasa) – umbrella
き	ki	A key with a long, curved handle.	きく(kiku) – to hear; chrysanthemum
く	ku	The beak of a cuckoo bird.	くつ(kutsu) – shoes
け	ke	The kelvin symbol on a thermometer.	けしき(keshiki) – scenery
こ	ko	Two coins stacked together.	こども(kodomo) – child

Pronunciation Tips

Mouth Position: For all sounds in this row, the back of your tongue should gently touch the soft palate (the roof of your mouth towards the back) to create the 'k' sound, before releasing into the vowel.
Common Mistake: Avoid adding a strong puff of air (aspiration) after the 'k' sound. The Japanese 'k' is softer and more direct. Practice by whispering the sounds.
Sound Consistency: Ensure the vowel sounds remain pure: "ah" for か, "ee" for き, "oo" for く, "eh" for け, and "oh" for こ.

Practice

Apply your knowledge by reading these simple words and phrases.

かき
1. Romaji: kaki
2. Meaning: oyster; persimmon (context-dependent)
けいこ
1. Romaji: Keiko
2. Meaning: (a common female given name); practice/training (as in おけいこ)
ここ
1. Romaji: koko
2. Meaning: here (this place)