If a consonant (/k/, /g/, /s/, /t/, etc.) is followed by the sounds /ya/, /yu/ or /yo/ as shown below, these combinations are called "glides", and each combination is considered one syllable rather than two.
The glides are written by two characters --- one of the /i/-row characters in ひらがな chart shown below followed by one of small ゃ or ゅ or ょ. The positioning of these small symbols is the same as those of small っ. Click on each glide below to confirm the pronunciation.
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The first word means "today" while the second one is "crafty." Note how small  must be in order to be recognized as glides. |
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In vertical writing, the glide symbol  is written to the right of the center. |
