small つ

[GregFromScotland]

The small tsu is a pause in the current word you are speaking with, however when written the resembles a double consonant.

For example.

わかった　This is wakatta.
the extra t is where you pause for a second.

[Barone1551]

to clarify this further. The small つ　(tsu) creates a double consonant with the letter that follows it.

for example:

あさって　Asatte　（The day after tomorrow)

If you take away the small つ

あさて　 Asate (Not sure if there is a meaning lol)

so when there is a small つ　double the consonant after. Hope this helps.

[darksyndrem]

Does it change the pronunciation? Other than the pause?

[Kinsora]

No, it just changes the length of the letter before it.

For instance, if you say Little, and litle, you will notice that you sort of instinctively say litle faster.

[Nyororin]

Originally Posted by SHAD0W

yes as chisai means small in japanese..

it is also the name of the character.

It`s actually called sokuon - 促音, and belongs to a group of characters referred to as sutegana - 捨て仮名.

[darksyndrem]

Originally Posted by Kinsora

No, it just changes the length of the letter before it.

For instance, if you say Little, and litle, you will notice that you sort of instinctively say litle faster.

Well I don't pronounce Little and Litle any differently lol but I know what you mean

[Nagoyankee]

Originally Posted by darksyndrem

Well I don't pronounce Little and Litle any differently

Good point. It's useless to explain the little っ with that "one t vs two t's " logic because the little っ sound exists only in several languages and English isn't one of them. Those are Japanese, Russian, Arabic, Italian, etc. This is called "gemination".

Believe me, those English-speakers who tell you that the little っ is easy to pronounce usually cannot do so themselves. They so often end up elongating the preceding syllable instead of correctly "geminateing" the following consonant.

[darksyndrem]

The thing is English is so much different than ANY language it's hard to make an example of something (for another language) in English. Hope that made sense

[bhl88]

じ～～～～～～～～～～っ (saw this used in manga/anime)

(it looks like it was meant to lengthen the pronunciation...)

[chryuop]

Originally Posted by Nagoyankee

Good point. It's useless to explain the little っ with that "one t vs two t's " logic because the little っ sound exists only in several languages and English isn't one of them. Those are Japanese, Russian, Arabic, Italian, etc. This is called "gemination".

Believe me, those English-speakers who tell you that the little っ is easy to pronounce usually cannot do so themselves. They so often end up elongating the preceding syllable instead of correctly "geminateing" the following consonant.

Nagoyankeeさん、何カ国語を話せますか？