Hangul: The Phonetic Alphabet of Korea21


Hangul, also known as the Korean alphabet, is a unique and efficient writing system that was created in the 15th century. It is a phonetic alphabet, meaning that each letter represents a specific sound. This makes it relatively easy to learn and use, even for non-native speakers.

Hangul consists of 24 basic letters: 14 consonants and 10 vowels. The consonants are divided into two groups: voiced and voiceless. The vowels are divided into two groups: monophthongs and diphthongs. Monophthongs are simple vowels, such as "a" or "o". Diphthongs are combinations of two vowels, such as "ai" or "oe".

Hangul letters are written in blocks, with each block representing a syllable. Syllables in Hangul are always written in a left-to-right order. The first letter in a syllable is the consonant, followed by the vowel, and then the final consonant (if there is one).

Hangul is a very efficient writing system. It is able to represent all of the sounds of the Korean language with a relatively small number of letters. This makes it easy to write and read, even for people who are not familiar with the Korean language.

Hangul is also a very versatile writing system. It can be used to write a variety of different types of texts, including literary works, technical documents, and even computer code. It is also used in a variety of different media, including print, television, and the internet.

Hangul is a truly unique and innovative writing system. It is a testament to the creativity and ingenuity of the Korean people. Hangul has played a major role in the development of Korean culture and society, and it continues to be an important part of Korean life today.

Here is a table that summarizes the basic letters of Hangul:| Consonant | Pronunciation | Vowel | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ㄱ | g |ㅏ| a |
| ㄴ | n | ㅑ | ya |
| ㄷ | d | ㅓ | eo |
| ㄹ | r | ㅕ | yeo |
| ㅁ | m | ㅗ | o |
| ㅂ | b | ㅛ | yo |
| ㅅ | s | ㅜ | u |
| ㅇ | ng | ㅠ | yu |
| ㅈ | j | ㅡ | eu |
| ㅊ | ch | ㅣ | i |
| ㅋ | k | ㅔ | e |
| ㅌ | t | ㅐ | ae |
| ㅍ | p | diphthongs | diphthongs |
| ㅎ | h | diphthongs | diphthongs |
| ㅏ | | ㅏㅣ | ai |
| diphthongs | diphthongs | ㅑㅣ | yae |

2025-02-04


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