アルファベット
arufabetto[a̠ɾɯ̟ɸa̠be̞t̚to̞]
In Japanese, the phrase "the abc's" is expressed as アルファベット (arufabetto).
While English speakers often use the idiom "the ABCs" to refer to the letters of the alphabet, the standard and most common way to refer to the alphabet in Japanese is アルファベット.
How do you pronounce it?
arufabetto
Did you know?
- In Japan, the concept of 'the ABCs' as a metaphor for the basics of a skill is often expressed using the word いろは (iroha), which refers to an ancient poem used to teach the Japanese alphabet.
- The word アルファベット is written entirely in カタカナ (katakana), the script specifically used for foreign loanwords, which visually marks its origin as non-Japanese.
- Although アルファベット refers to the letters, Japanese people often refer to the English alphabet by the term ローマ字 (rōmaji) when referring to the use of Latin letters to write Japanese sounds.
Examples in context
- エE
- ケKe
- サSa
- スSu
- タTa
- チChi
- ツTsu
- ンN
- うU
- きKi
- くKu
- そSo
- アルファベットを書いてください。arufabetto o kaite kudasai.Please write the abc's.
- 彼はアルファベットを覚えています。kare wa arufabetto o oboete imasu.He knows the abc's.
Example conversation
A tutor is helping a student practice writing.
- 陽葵 Himariアルファベットを練習しましょう。arufabetto o renshuu shimashou.Let's practice the abc's.
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、やってみます。hai, yatte mimasu.Yes, I will try.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔くん、上手ですね。Hiroto-kun, jouzu desu ne.Hiroto, you are good at it.
- 大翔 Hirotoありがとうございます。arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry アルファベット, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
