Katakana Letter Ra Letter
ラ (Katakana Letter Ra) is a Japanese Katakana character used to write words and syllables.
U+30E9
“ラ” is the Katakana letter for the “ra” sound. It’s commonly used in Japanese writing to represent syllables in borrowed words and native vocabulary.
Katakana Letter Ra Letter Meaning
ラ is a Katakana character representing the syllable “ra.” In Japanese text, Katakana is often used for loanwords, names, onomatopoeia, and emphasis, so ラ frequently appears when writing those sounds. Depending on context, it can be part of a larger word or combine with diacritics like “゛” (dakuten) to change the pronunciation (e.g., creating “ri/ru/re/ra” variants such as “ら”→“ら゛” forms used for different sounds). As a standalone character, ラ is mainly about spelling the “ra” mora; as part of text, it helps form accurate syllable sequences. It has the Unicode code point U+30E9.
Common uses
- •Writing Japanese loanwords and foreign names that include the “ra” sound in Katakana
- •Typing Katakana syllables in Japanese text input for chat, messages, and captions
- •Creating names and labels in UI text where Katakana spellings are required
- •Designing posters or social media text that uses Katakana for stylized wording
- •Building correct Japanese strings in software localization and content tools
Examples
ラ — Katakana Letter Ra (U+30E9)
- ララーメン
- ラカメラ
- ラドラマ
- ラライオン
- ララジオ
Variations
Technical codes
| Unicode | U+30E9 | |
| HTML Entity | ラ | |
| HTML Code | ラ | |
| CSS | \30E9 | |
| Alt Code | Alt + 12521 | |
| Decimal | 12521 |
How to type Katakana Letter Ra Letter (ラ)
On Windows
Hold Alt and type 12521 on the numeric keypad. In Word, type 30E9 then press Alt + X.
On Mac
Switch to the Unicode Hex Input keyboard, then hold Option and type 30E9. Or press Control + Command + Space and search.
On Linux
Press Control + Shift + U, type 30e9, then press Enter or Space.
Anywhere
Copy ラ with the button above and paste it wherever you need it — this works on every device and in every app, with no keyboard shortcut to remember.
FAQ
What is the Unicode code point for ラ?
ラ is U+30E9 (KATAKANA LETTER RA).
How can I copy ラ for use on a website?
You can copy the character directly, or use the HTML entity ラ or the CSS escape \\30E9.
What does ラ represent in Japanese?
ラ represents the syllable “ra” in Katakana.
How do I insert ラ using JavaScript?
Use the escape sequence \\u{30E9} (JavaScript).