【Q&A】は＝ha? or wa?

Challenge 01 Greetings

Hiragana Boot Camp shows 「は」is 「ha」, but in Challenge 1, 「こんにちは」is pronounced as 「konnitiwa」not 「konnitiha」. Why?

There are 2 letters in Hiragana that you can read 2 ways.

• は＝ can be "HA" or "WA"
• へ＝ can be "HE" or "E"

When ”は” and ”へ” are a part of one word, they are read as "HA" and "HE".

When ”は” and ”へ” are used to connect two words, they are read as "WA" and "E".

• はと＝hato = pigeon
• はぶらし= haburasi = toothbrush

"は" above are a part of one word so you read them as "HA".

• あなた は おおきい＝anata wa ookii= you are tall/big.
• このほん は おもしろい＝kono hon wa omosiroi= this book is interesting.

"は" above connect 2 words so you read them as "WA".

• へび＝hebi = snake
• へいわ= heiwa = peace

"へ" above are a part of one word so you read them as "HE".

• がっこう へ いきます＝gakkō e ikimasu= I go to school.
• どこ へ いきたいですか？＝doko e ikitai desuka?= Where do you want to go?

"へ" above connect 2 words so you read them as "E".