Small っ, is known as Sokuon（促音 そくおん）
What is Sokuon?
Sokuon, also known as a "small tsu," is a unique symbol in the Japanese writing system that indicates a sudden stop or pause in pronunciation. It is commonly used in both hiragana and katakana scripts to modify the pronunciation of characters and create distinct sounds.
Examples of Sokuon Pronunciation
For instance, in the word "ippai" (いっぱい), the sokuon changes the pronunciation from "i-pai" to "ip-pai," emphasizing the double 'p' sound.
Practice Exercises for Sokuon Pronunciation
1. . Shadowing: Listen to native speakers and try to mimic their sokuon pronunciation. I have pronounce some words with sokuon on the youtube video above.
Repeat after them as closely as you can to improve your own articulation.
3. Record Yourself: Use your smartphone to record yourself pronouncing words with sokuon. Listen back and make adjustments to get that crisp sound just right.
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