What is hiragana ru?

The hiragana character "ru" is written as る in Japanese script. It is pronounced similar to the English word "rule," but with a softer "r" sound and shorter "u" sound. In Japanese, "ru" is used in various ways such as a verb ending, a honorific suffix, and as a standalone word to represent the sound of a growling animal. It is also a common syllable in many Japanese names such as Haruko and Yuriko.