Katakana Keyboard Online
Convert Romaji into Katakana or use the virtual keys for direct entry. Small Katakana, voiced sounds, the long-vowel mark ー, and common foreign-sound combinations are available below the editor.
Katakana character keys
KatakanaWhen is Katakana used?
Katakana commonly marks loanwords, foreign names, sound effects, technical terminology, and emphasis. For example, amerika becomes アメリカ. A person's or brand's established Japanese spelling should still be checked because transliteration is based on pronunciation rather than letter-for-letter substitution.
Katakana typing examples
| Romaji | Katakana | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| amerika | アメリカ | America |
| koohii | コーヒー | coffee |
| terebi | テレビ | television |
| fairu | ファイル | file |
| shefu | シェフ | chef |
Long vowels and foreign sounds
The character ー extends the preceding vowel in many Katakana words. The tool also includes combinations such as ファ, フィ, フェ, フォ, ティ, and シェ. They represent sounds that do not fit neatly into the traditional basic Kana table.
Frequently asked questions
Is Katakana only for foreign words?
No. Loanwords are a major use, but Katakana also appears in sound effects, technical labels, animal and plant names, advertising, and deliberate emphasis.
How do I type the Katakana long-vowel mark?
Click ー on the keyboard. In Romaji conversion, doubled vowels may create the corresponding sound, but conventional Katakana spelling should be checked for the word.
Can I convert Katakana to Kanji here?
No. Kanji selection depends on context and candidate conversion. A full Japanese IME is the appropriate tool for Kana-to-Kanji conversion.