Pronunciation Guide to Korean Hangul Script105

Introduction

Hangul, also known as the Korean alphabet, is a unique and efficient writing system developed in the 15th century. Unlike most other languages, which use a combination of letters and symbols, Hangul consists of 24 basic consonants and vowels that are combined to form syllables.

Consonants

The Korean consonants are divided into three categories: unaspirated, aspirated, and voiced. Unaspirated consonants are pronounced without any puff of air, while aspirated consonants are pronounced with a strong puff of air. Voiced consonants are pronounced with vibration of the vocal cords.

Unaspirated
Aspirated
Voiced


ㄱ (g)
ㅋ (k)
ㄴ (n)


ㄷ (d)
ㅌ (t)
ㄹ (r)


ㅂ (b)
ㅍ (p)
ㅁ (m)


ㅅ (s)
ㅆ (ss)
ㅇ (ng)


ㅈ (j)
ㅊ (ch)



ㅎ (h)

Vowels

The Korean vowels are also divided into three categories: pure vowels, diphthongs, and diphthong glides.

Pure Vowels
Diphthongs
Diphthong Glides


ㅏ (a)
ㅐ (ae)
ㅑ (ya)


ㅓ (eo)
ㅔ (e)
ㅕ (yeo)


ㅗ (o)
ㅘ (wa)
ㅛ (yo)


ㅜ (u)
ㅝ (wo)
ㅠ (yu)


ㅡ (eu)




ㅣ (i)

Syllable Formation

Korean syllables are formed by combining a consonant with a vowel, and optionally a final consonant. The following table shows the possible syllable structures:

Syllable Structure
Example


Consonant + Vowel
가 (ga)


Consonant + Vowel + Final Consonant
막 (mak)


Consonant + Diphthong
왜 (wae)


Consonant + Diphthong + Final Consonant
쇠 (soe)

Pronunciation Rules

Here are some general pronunciation rules for Korean Hangul:
Consonant clusters are pronounced separately.
Final consonants are pronounced weakly.
Diphthongs are pronounced as a single syllable.
The vowel "ㅡ" is pronounced as a short "eu" sound.
The vowel "ㅣ" is pronounced as a long "ee" sound.

Conclusion

Learning to pronounce Korean Hangul can be a bit challenging at first, but with a little practice you can master the basics. Once you have a good grasp of the pronunciation rules, you will be able to read and speak Korean with confidence.

2025-02-19

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