Korean Alphabet Notes

Korean Alphabet in 10 Minutes

Basic Vowels (10)

  • ㅑ (ya) - Similar to "ya" in English.
  • ㅓ (eo) - Small like in English.
  • ㅕ (yeo) - Similar to 'yo' in English.
  • ㅜ (u) - Round lips when pronouncing.
  • ㅠ (yu)
  • ㅗ (o)
  • ㅏ (a) - Stretch out the end of your lips when saying.
  • ㅣ (i) - Pronounced as 'ee'.

Compound Vowels (11)

  • ㅔ (e) and ㅐ (ae) - Have the same sound.
  • ㅖ (ye) and ㅒ (yae) - Have the same sound.
  • ㅚ (oe) - Pronounced as "oi," a quick combination of "oo" and "e."
  • ㅟ (wi) - Quick combination of "oh" and "e."
  • ㅢ (ui) - Combination of ㅡ (eu) and ㅣ (i).
  • ㅙ (wae), ㅞ (we), ㅘ (wa) - All pronounced as "we."

Basic Consonants (14) and Double Consonants (5)

  • Total of 19 consonants.
  • ㄱ (g/k) - Hard "g" sound.
  • ㅋ (k) - "k" sound.
  • ㄲ (kk) - Double "g" or "k" sound.
  • ㄴ (n) - Similar to "n" sound.
  • ㄷ (d/t) - Similar to "d" sound.
  • ㄸ (tt) - Double "d" or "t" sound.
  • ㄹ (r/l)
  • ㅁ (m) - "m" sound.
  • ㅂ (b/p) - "b" sound.
  • ㅃ (pp) - Double "b" or "p" sound.
  • ㅅ (s) - "s" sound.
  • ㅆ (ss) - Double "s" sound, stronger than a single "s."
  • ㅇ (ng) - Silent when used as an initial consonant.
  • ㅈ (j) - "j" sound.
  • ㅉ (jj) - Double "j" sound.
  • ㅊ (ch)
  • ㅎ (h) - "h" sound.

Syllable Construction

  • Requires at least one vowel and one consonant.
  • Example: consonant + vowel, or consonant + vowel + consonant.
  • A final consonant (batchim) can be added after a vowel; it can be a basic or double consonant.

Changes in Sound for Final Consonants

  • When a consonant is placed at the end of a syllable, its sound may change.
  • ㄱ (g), ㅋ (k), ㄲ (kk) changes to kk sound.
  • ㅂ (b), ㅍ (p), ㅃ (pp) changes to pp sound.
  • ㄷ (d), ㅅ (s), ㅆ (ss), ㅈ (j), ㅊ (ch), ㅎ (h) changes to tt sound.
  • ㅇ (ng) remains as "ng" sound.
  • ㄴ (n) remains as "n" sound

Practice Examples

  • "Morning": ㅁ (m) + ㅗ (o) + ㄴ (n) + ㅣ (i) + ㅇ (ng) = Morning
  • "Jimin": ㅈ (j) + ㅣ (i) + ㅁ (m) + ㅣ (i) + ㄴ (n) = Jimin
  • "Jenny": ㅈ (j) + ㅔ (e) + ㄴ (n) + ㅣ (i) = Jenny
  • "Nicole": ㄴ (n) + ㅣ (i) + ㅋ (k) + ㅗ (o) + ㄹ (l) = Nicole
  • "Steven": ㅅ (s) + ㅡ (eu) + ㅌ (t) + ㅣ (i) + ㅂ (b) + ㅓ (eo) + ㄴ (n) = Steven
  • "Emma": ㅇ (silent) + ㅔ (e) + ㅁ (m) + ㅁ (m) + ㅏ (a) = Emma