Small Tsu (Sokuon): How to Pronounce っ / ッ
If Japanese words sometimes feel like they jam your mouth for half a beat, you’ve met the small tsu.
The small っ / ッ (called sokuon / 促音) is not a sound by itself.
It’s a pause that makes the next consonant hit harder.
Once you learn the rhythm, your pronunciation instantly sounds more natural.
If you want the full kana roadmap first, go here:
What Is Sokuon? (In One Sentence)
Sokuon = a short pause before the next consonant.
- It does not sound like tsu
- It creates a doubled consonant
- It takes one beat, not two
Example:
- きて → kite
- きって → kit-te (pause, then t)
Where Small っ Appears Most Often
Small tsu appears before certain consonants, especially:
- K sounds: かっこ / がっこう
- S sounds: さっき / ざっし
- T sounds: きって / ちょっと
- P sounds: きっぷ / カップ
It never appears:
- at the beginning of normal words
- before vowels (あ・い・う・え・お)
How to Say It (The Only Method You Need)
Think in rhythm, not letters.
The “Pause Method”
- Close your mouth briefly
- Stop airflow for a fraction of a second
- Release strongly into the next consonant
Example:
- がこう ❌ (no pause)
- がっこう ✅ (pause + k)
👉 The pause should feel short and tight, not stretched.
Practice Drills (Use This Exact Order)
Level 1: Super Easy (feel the pause)
Practice until the stop feels natural.
- きって
- きっぷ
- さっき
- がっこう
- いっしょ
Level 2: Everyday Words
Now keep the rhythm smooth.
- ちょっと
- もっと
- やっぱり
- しっぱい
- けっこう
Level 3: Longer & Tricky
Pause stays short — don’t slow down.
- けっこん
- まっすぐ
- にっき
- せっけん
- ざっし
30-Second Drill (Per Word)
For each word, do this:
- Slow (5x): exaggerate the pause
- Normal (10x): speak naturally
- Connected (10x): say it in a sentence
- Write (3x): write small っ, not big つ
This trains mouth + ear + hand together.
Practice With the Avatalks Tool
This is where sokuon really locks in.
How to use the tool here
- Listen to the word
- Watch mouth shape
- Repeat using the pause
- Write it correctly (small!)
Common Mistakes (Fix These Fast)
❌ Reading っ as つ
- きつて ❌
- きって ✅
❌ Pausing too long
- Sounds choppy and unnatural
- Keep it tight, not dramatic
❌ Writing big つ
- っ is small
- Big つ changes the word completely
Next Steps (What You’ll Hit Soon)
Back to the Kana Roadmap →
The full hiragana → katakana → extras plan.
Kana Extras Overview →
See how all kana rules fit together.
Yoon Combinations →
Small ゃゅょ combinations and sound changes.
Final Tip
If a Japanese word feels slightly blocked,
don’t push through it — pause.
That tiny stop is what makes small tsu (促音) sound right.
Practice it daily for 5 minutes, and your Japanese rhythm will level up fast.