A point we have not covered so far in expressing Japanese sounds in katakana is how to express the double consonant sound, such as kissu for "kiss" in English or hitto for "hit" in English.

The tool for this is simple. Just use a small-sized ツ before the mora which starts with the consonant which was doubled.
For example: キッス and ヒット from the above paragraph. This little ッ effectively creates, or signals, one silent mora, or a pause.

Now, try to read the following names and compare your pronunciation with the recording:

ニック	Nikku	Nick
ミッテラン	Mitteran	Mitterrand
ブッシュ	Busshu	Bush
マーガレット	Maagaretto	Margaret
ベッキー	Bekkii	Becky
メリッサ	Merissa	Melissa

Here are some place names:

Read out-loud and guess what the following English words are before you click the word to get the meaning:

チケット	chiketto	[gets you on a train]
チックタック	chikkutakku	[for your breath]
ヒッチハイク	hicchihaiku	[when traveling cheap]
ヒットソング	hittosongu	[top of the charts]
ビッグマック	Biggumakku	[best with fries and a coke]
マグカップ	magukappu	[a container]
キックボクシング	kikkubokushingu	[a style of fighting]
ホエールウオッチング	hoeeru-uocchingu	[tourist activity]

Now, write all the words above, on your PC.



Your PC should support Japanese characters.