Hangul Pronunciation for Beginners: Master the Basics76

Hangul, the Korean alphabet, is a unique and beautiful writing system that is relatively easy to learn. It has only 24 letters, each representing a specific sound. Once you master the basics of Hangul pronunciation, you'll be able to read and speak Korean with confidence.

Here is a guide to Korean pronunciation that will help you get started:

Vowels

Hangul has 10 vowel sounds:
ㅏ (a) as in "apple"
ㅑ (ya) as in "yacht"
ㅓ (eo) as in "earth"
ㅕ (yeo) as in "yes"
ㅗ (o) as in "open"
ㅛ (yo) as in "yo-yo"
ㅜ (u) as in "umbrella"
ㅠ (yu) as in "yummy"
ㅡ (eu) as in "burn"
ㅣ (i) as in "eat"

The vowels ㅏ, ㅓ, ㅗ, and ㅜ are pronounced with a strong, clear sound. The vowels ㅑ, ㅕ, ㅛ, and ㅠ are pronounced with a more relaxed, breathy sound. The vowel ㅡ is pronounced with a short, neutral sound.

Consonants

Hangul has 14 consonant sounds:
ㄱ (g) as in "go"
ㄴ (n) as in "nose"
ㄷ (d) as in "dog"
ㄹ (r) as in "roll"
ㅁ (m) as in "mouth"
ㅂ (b) as in "boy"
ㅅ (s) as in "sun"
ㅇ (ng) as in "sing"
ㅈ (j) as in "jump"
ㅊ (ch) as in "church"
ㅋ (k) as in "kite"
ㅌ (t) as in "top"
ㅍ (p) as in "pop"
ㅎ (h) as in "hat"

The consonants ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, ㄹ, ㅁ, ㅂ, and ㅅ are pronounced with a strong, clear sound. The consonants ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, and ㅎ are pronounced with a more relaxed, breathy sound. The consonant ㅇ is silent when it is at the beginning of a word.

Syllables

Hangul syllables are made up of a consonant and a vowel. The consonant is always written first, followed by the vowel. For example, the syllable "가" is made up of the consonant "ㄱ" and the vowel "ㅏ".

There are a few special rules for pronouncing Hangul syllables:
If a syllable ends in a consonant, the consonant is pronounced with a strong, clear sound.
If a syllable ends in a vowel, the vowel is pronounced with a long, drawn-out sound.
If a syllable has a double vowel, the vowel is pronounced with a short, staccato sound.

Practice

The best way to improve your Hangul pronunciation is to practice regularly. Here are a few tips for practicing:
Listen to native Korean speakers. You can find Korean audio and video materials online or through language exchange programs.
Read aloud from Korean texts. This will help you get used to the rhythm and flow of the Korean language.
Practice speaking with other Korean learners. This will give you the opportunity to get feedback on your pronunciation.

With a little practice, you'll be able to master the basics of Hangul pronunciation and start speaking Korean with confidence.

2025-02-13

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