Korean Alphabet and Pronunciation: A Comprehensive Guide358

The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, is a unique and efficient system created in the 15th century by King Sejong the Great. Unlike many other languages, Hangul uses an alphabetic system rather than a syllabary or logographic system. This makes it relatively easy to learn, even for beginners.

Vowels

There are 21 vowel sounds in Korean, which are represented by 10 vowel letters. Each vowel letter can be combined with a variety of consonants to create different syllables.

Letter
IPA Symbol
Pronunciation


ㅏ
[a]
Ah, as in "father"


ㅑ
[ja]
Ya, as in "yard"


ㅓ
[ʌ]
Uh, as in "but"


ㅕ
[jʌ]
Yu, as in "year"


ㅗ
[o]
Oh, as in "boat"


ㅛ
[jo]
Yo, as in "yoke"


ㅜ
[u]
Oo, as in "boot"


ㅠ
[ju]
Yu, as in "you"


ㅡ
[ɯ]
Uh, as in "put"


ㅣ
[i]
Ee, as in "beat"

Consonants

There are 19 consonant sounds in Korean, which are represented by 14 consonant letters. Some consonant letters can be aspirated, meaning that they are pronounced with a puff of air.

Letter
IPA Symbol
Pronunciation


ㄱ
[k]
G, as in "go"


ㅋ
[kʰ]
K, as in "car"


ㄴ
[n]
N, as in "no"


ㄷ
[t]
D, as in "dog"


ㅌ
[tʰ]
T, as in "top"


ㄹ
[l]
L, as in "love"


ㅁ
[m]
M, as in "man"


ㅂ
[p]
B, as in "ball"


ㅍ
[pʰ]
P, as in "pot"


ㅅ
[s]
S, as in "sun"


ㅈ
[tʃ]
Ch, as in "church"


ㅊ
[tʃʰ]
Tch, as in "catch"


ㅎ
[h]
H, as in "hat"


ㅇ
[ŋ]
Ng, as in "song"

Syllables

Korean syllables are always composed of a vowel and at least one consonant. The most common syllable structure is consonant-vowel (CV), but there are also syllables with initial consonant clusters (CCV) and final consonant clusters (CVC). Syllables can be written vertically or horizontally.

Pronunciation

Korean pronunciation is relatively straightforward. The vowels are pronounced clearly and the consonants are pronounced with a light aspiration. Stress is usually placed on the first syllable of a word.

Learning Hangul

Hangul is a relatively easy language to learn, especially for native English speakers. There are no tones or complex grammar rules to worry about. With a little practice, you can master the Korean alphabet and start reading and writing Korean in no time.

Tips for Learning Hangul* Start by learning the vowels. Once you know the vowels, you can start combining them with consonants to form syllables.
* Practice writing Hangul characters regularly. This will help you to improve your memorization and muscle memory.
* Listen to Korean audio recordings and watch Korean videos. This will help you to get used to the sound of the language and to learn how to pronounce words correctly.
* Find a language partner or tutor who can help you to practice speaking and listening to Korean.

2024-11-12

Previous：German Words That Will Make You Sound Like a Native Speaker

Next：Korean Pronunciation Guide: Hangul Letters and Sounds