Katakana Words カタカナ

Katakana is mostly used for loanwords, words borrowed from other languages. Here are common katakana words for this topic with their romaji, English meanings and approximate JLPT level. Practice them with the flashcards above.

Katakana is used for loanwords such as コーヒー (coffee), テレビ (television) and パン (bread), as well as foreign names, brand names and many menu items. Once you know the katakana characters, practicing real katakana words is the fastest way to build reading speed for signs, menus and the JLPT.

Pick a topic and JLPT level, choose 10 to 30 random words, then type the romaji for each one and press Enter. Correct words are removed from the set, and your accuracy is tracked as you go. Press the space bar to reveal an answer if you're stuck. Still learning the characters? Start with the katakana flashcards, or practice hiragana words next.