Arigatou Gozaimasu Pronunciation: How to Say ありがとうございます

Hello, I’m Kodak.

ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu) is one of the most useful Japanese phrases you can learn. It means “thank you” in a polite way.

However, English speakers often pronounce it too quickly, shorten the long vowel in arigatou, or add strong English stress to one syllable.

How Do You Pronounce Arigatou Gozaimasu?

The English-style approximation above is only a starting point. Japanese pronunciation is more even and less heavily stressed than English.

Pronunciation Breakdown: A-ri-ga-to-u Go-za-i-ma-su

Japanese rhythm is based on units called morae. Each kana usually takes one beat.

Together, the phrase has ten basic morae:

あ (a): An Open “Ah” Sound

Open your mouth naturally and pronounce a clean ah sound.

り (ri): A Light Japanese R Sound

The Japanese r is not the same as the strong English r. Touch the tongue lightly near the ridge behind the upper teeth, with a quick tap.

For many learners, it sounds somewhere between an English r, l, and soft d, but do not replace it completely with any one of them.

が (ga): A Clear “Gah”

Pronounce ga with a hard g, as in go, followed by a clean ah vowel.

とう (tou): A Long “Toh” Sound

This is the most important part of arigatou.

So ありがとう is not simply:

ご (go): A Short “Goh”

Unlike the long とう before it, ご is normally one short beat.

ざ (za): A Clear Z Sound

Pronounce ざ approximately as zah. Avoid changing it into sa or the English word the.

い (i): A Short “Ee” Sound

い is a clean vowel like ee, but keep it short.

Do not turn zai into one strongly blended English syllable like zeye. Keep a slight rhythmic division: za-i.

ま (ma): A Short “Mah”

Pronounce ま with a clean ah vowel.

す (su): Often Light at the End

The final す is written and counted as one mora. In natural standard Japanese, the u may become very weak or devoiced, especially after the voiceless s sound.

However, do not aggressively delete the final sound. The mouth still forms す, even when the vowel is very light.

The Correct Rhythm of ありがとうございます

English often has one strongly stressed syllable. Japanese generally gives each mora a more even amount of time.

Where Is the Stress in Arigatou Gozaimasu?

Japanese does not use stress in exactly the same way as English. Instead, standard Japanese distinguishes words with changes in pitch.

For beginners, the most important points are:

Pitch patterns can vary with region, speaker, sentence position, and the surrounding words. A learner does not need to exaggerate the pitch. Clear vowels, correct length, and natural rhythm should come first.

Arigatou or Arigato: Which Spelling Is Correct?

Both spellings appear in English-language materials.

Common Pronunciation Mistakes

Mistake 1: Pronouncing the Final O Too Short

The final long vowel is meaningful Japanese rhythm. Give とう two beats.

Mistake 2: Using Strong English Stress

Keep the morae smoother and more even.

Mistake 3: Pronouncing り with a Heavy English R

A strong American or British r can make the word sound less natural. Use a quick, light tongue tap.

Mistake 4: Blending ざい into “Zeye”

ざい contains two morae: za-i. The sounds can connect naturally, but do not replace the Japanese vowels with an English diphthong.

Mistake 5: Saying “Go-zai-mass” Too Abruptly

The final u may be weak, but the rhythm of ます remains Japanese. Form the complete ending rather than cutting the phrase off sharply.

Mistake 6: Pronouncing Every U Very Strongly

Overpronouncing the final u as a strong English “oo” can also sound unnatural.

What Does Arigatou Gozaimasu Mean?

ありがとうございます is a polite way to express gratitude. It is commonly translated as:

ありがとう developed from a form related to the adjective ありがたい, meaning something like “rare,” “difficult to have,” or “worthy of gratitude.” Adding ございます makes the expression more polite.

Arigatou vs Arigatou Gozaimasu

手伝ってくれて、ありがとう。
Tetsudatte kurete, arigatou.
Thanks for helping me.

ご親切にありがとうございます。
Go-shinsetsu ni arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you for your kindness.

Arigatou Gozaimashita: Pronunciation and Difference

ありがとうございました (arigatou gozaimashita) is the past form. It is often used after an action, service, event, lesson, or completed interaction.

Pronounce it in morae:

今日はありがとうございました。
Kyō wa arigatou gozaimashita.
Thank you for today.

ご来店ありがとうございました。
Go-raiten arigatou gozaimashita.
Thank you for visiting our store.

Natural Examples with Arigatou Gozaimasu

ありがとうございます。
Arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you.

本当にありがとうございます。
Hontō ni arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you very much.

どうもありがとうございます。
Dōmo arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you very much.

いつもありがとうございます。
Itsumo arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you, as always.

教えていただき、ありがとうございます。
Oshiete itadaki, arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you for explaining it to me.

ご連絡ありがとうございます。
Go-renraku arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you for contacting me.

お待ちいただき、ありがとうございます。
O-machi itadaki, arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you for waiting.

How Arigatou Gozaimasu Sounds in Fast Speech

In natural conversation, sounds connect more smoothly than they do in slow textbook pronunciation.

The phrase should still retain its Japanese timing. Natural speech does not mean swallowing random sounds or replacing them with English vowels.

Can You Shorten Arigatou Gozaimasu?

Japanese speakers sometimes use shorter or more casual forms, but each has a different tone.

For learners, ありがとうございます is the safest polite form, while ありがとう is the basic casual form.

FAQ About Arigatou Gozaimasu Pronunciation

How do you pronounce arigatou gozaimasu?

Pronounce it as ten even Japanese morae: a-ri-ga-to-u go-za-i-ma-su. The tou part has a long ō sound, and the final u in masu may become very light in natural speech.

Is it arigato or arigatou?

Both spellings are used in English. Arigatou reflects the kana spelling ありがとう, while arigatō shows the long vowel with a macron. Arigato is a simplified spelling.

Do you pronounce the U in arigatou?

The う lengthens the preceding o. Do not normally pronounce it as a separate strong English “oo.” Hold the o sound for approximately two morae.

Do you pronounce the U in gozaimasu?

Yes, it is part of the word, but the vowel may be very weak or devoiced in natural standard Japanese. Beginners should first practice the full form ma-su before making it lighter.

Where is the stress in arigatou gozaimasu?

Japanese uses pitch accent rather than English-style stress. Avoid strongly emphasizing one syllable. Focus first on even rhythm, clear vowels, and the long ō in arigatou.

Is arigatou gozaimasu formal?

It is polite and appropriate in many everyday situations, including speaking to customers, teachers, colleagues, strangers, and older people.

What is the difference between arigatou and arigatou gozaimasu?

Arigatou is casual to neutral. Arigatou gozaimasu is more polite.

What is the difference between arigatou gozaimasu and arigatou gozaimashita?

Arigatou gozaimasu is the non-past polite form. Arigatou gozaimashita is often used after a completed action, event, or service.

Can I say arigatou gozaimasu to a friend?

Yes. It may sound especially polite, sincere, or slightly formal. With close friends, arigatou is often more natural.

Summary: How to Pronounce Arigatou Gozaimasu Correctly

References

• Kotobank: 有難う — meaning, formation, and the note that ございます is added for polite usage.
• The Japan Foundation, Sydney: Kana resources — learning resources for Japanese kana and pronunciation.
• The Japan Foundation, Sydney: Hiragana mini books — resources covering kana, voiced sounds, double consonants, and related pronunciation patterns.