Pronounce like Natives! ~Silent Vowels~

The most well-known Silent Vowel is the U in ~です(desu) pronounced as DES.

You might have heard more of these kinds of missing vowels in conversations, so let’s see how they work!

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*The rule changes depending on the regions/ dialects.
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Basically, those vowels that become silent are “I” and “U” with particular consonants.

KI and KU before K, S, T/CH, H, F, and P.

聞く(k(i) kù): to listen to, ask

臭い(k(u)sà i): smelly

汚い(k(i)tànà i): dirty

基本(k(i) hòń): basic, standard

楽譜(gak(u) fù): music sheet




SHI and SU before K, S, T/CH, H, F, and P.

スキー(s(u)kìi): skiing

悲しさ (kanà sh(ì)sa): sadness

明日(ash(ì)tà): tomorrow

支払い(sh(i) hàrà ì): payment 

スプレー(s(u)pùree): spray 




JI and ZU before K, S, T/CH, H, F, and P. 

政治家(seì j(ì) kà): politician

静か(shìz(u) ka): quiet, calm

相槌(aì z(ù)chì): short responses in conversations 

元日(gań j(ì)tsù): the first day of a year



CHI and TSU before K, S, T/CH, H, F, and P.

近い (ch(i)kà i): close, near 

月(ts(u)kì): moon, month 

錬金術師(reń kìń jùts(u) shi): alchemist

土(ts(u)chì): soil

地方(ch(i) hòu): countryside



HI and FU before K, S, T/CH, H, F, and P.

深い(f(u)kà i): deep

不思議(f(u) shì gì): mysterious, strange

必要(h(i)tsù yòù): necessary

ひとつ(h(i)tòtsu): one (thing)



PI and PU before K, S, T/CH, H, F, and P.

ピカイチ(p(i)kàichi): most talented

ピシッと(p(i)shìtto): neat and clean (in behaviour)

ピチピチ(p(i)chìpìchì): fresh (of fish, skin etc), very tight (in size)

ヘリコプター(herìkòp(u)taa): helicopter


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Also when a word/ sentence ends with き(ki)・く(ku)・し(shi)・す(su)・つ(tsu) and doesn't have an accent.

E.g.
渋谷駅(shibùyà ek(i)): Shibuya Station
お菓子(okàsh(i)): snacks, sweets
食べます(tabèmàs(u)): to eat (I’m polite form) 

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Of course there are some word with consecutive silent-able consonants like below. Then you can make either the first or second vowel silent. Both sound natural.

スクショ (s(u)kusho/ suk(u)sho)
しつこい (sh(i)tsukoi/ shits(u)koi)
つくし (ts(u)kùshì/ tsuk(ù)shì)

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FAQ

Q. Do Japanese not understand when I forget making those vowels silent? 

— Don’t worry, we do understand even when you pronounce every single word as written. We actually pronounce all the vowels when we want an emphasis or accent.
E.g.
開く(akù): to open
足(ashì): foot, leg


Q. Why are some characters not pronounced?

— Just because it’s easier to pronounce (as a Japanese)! However, the most Japanese never notice the rules of silent vowels since it’s just natural to say.

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Hope you enjoyed reading!