Since it’s a phonetic language, Japanese tends to be pretty straightforward when it comes to pronouncing its sounds. But some words do change in tone and inflection, and this can sometimes trip Japanese learners up. Even words that seem straightforward when written down have the ability to twist your tongue in knots when you actually try to use them in conversation!

Thankfully, Risa from the "Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101" YouTube channel created this informative video where she introduces 10 words that foreign learners of Japanese often find difficult to pronounce.

Naturally, she also includes the correct pronunciation to help you practice! Even if these words get you tongue-tied, keep at and just remember: practice makes perfect!