Learn Japanese with this phonetic font

Inspiration
By published

Decipher Japanese script and turn it into English phonetic sounds with this unique typography.

Japanese phonetic font

You'll love how this font translates the Japanese language

Learning a new language can be a challenge at the best of times, but the level of difficulty immediately ramps up when you have to get to grips with a new script as well.

Out of the three typographic styles used in Japan, johnson banks settled on Katakana as the phonetic wordmark used to present foreign words (or at least, the uniquely Japanese pronunciation of said words).

By incorporating phonetic English sounds into Katakana shapes, johnson banks created Phonetikana, a readable hybrid for English speakers new to the language. Start reading Japanese right now with Phonetikana and the images below.

Japanese phonetic font

Phonetikana combines the English language and the Japanese script

Japanese phonetic fonts

Phonetikana is a great way to start reading Japanese script

Japanese phonetic fonts

Even animal sounds can be translated

Japanese phonetic fonts

With Phonetikana you can read whole sentences

Japanese phonetic fonts

Can you make out this saying?

Japanese phonetic fonts

The label helps give this word away

Japanese phonetic fonts

This super font was made by johnson banks

Like this? Read these!

Dom Carter
Dom Carter
Freelance writer

Dom Carter is a freelance writer who specialises in art and design. Formerly a staff writer for Creative Bloq, his work has also appeared on Creative Boom and in the pages of ImagineFX, Computer Arts, 3D World, and .net. He has been a D&AD New Blood judge, and has a particular interest in picture books.