kya / キャ
The first KY combined kana — キ plus a small ャ becomes “kya,” a single syllable. Opens camp, cabbage, and character.
Pronunciation
The compound character キャ represents the syllable 'kya', formed by combining キ (ki) with a small ャ (ya). It is pronounced as a single syllable 'kya' — not 'ki-ya'. Very common in loanwords (camp, cabbage, character, cash, cancel).
キャ is キ (ki) plus a small ャ — read as one syllable, “kya,” never “ki-ya.” It opens loanwords like キャンプ (camp), キャベツ (cabbage), キャラクター (character), キャッシュ (cash).
How to write キャ
Trace キャ on the canvas at the top of the page. Animated arrows show each stroke's direction; trace along them and the stroke fills in. Each numbered step below explains what that stroke does.
Write キ exactly: two short crossbars angling up to the right, then a long vertical descending through both.
Write a small ャ tucked into the lower right at about half height: stroke 4 a short stroke sweeping up and hooking, stroke 5 a vertical crossing it. The smaller size is what marks it as a combiner.
Origin
Katakana キャ combines キ — from the kanji 幾 (ki) — with a small ャ, the reduced form of ヤ (from 也). Together they spell a single “kya” sound; neither glyph brings a new kanji of its own.
Common words starting with キャ
Printable practice sheet
Print this worksheet to practice writing キャ by hand — the top row shows the stroke order to trace, then fill the blank squares.
Lock it into memory
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