Korean alphabet (Hangul) and reading rules in Korean

Learn Korean and it can be difficult to speak it fluently, but learning the Korean alphabet is quite easy. Hangul, official writing system (korean), help you find the right dish on the menu or locate yourself on the map.

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Korean alphabet (Hangul)

South Korea belongs to the East Asian cultural sphere, and her writing system is a combination of letters, used by Koreans. Many believe, that these are hieroglyphs - but this is an erroneous opinion.

Hangul is the name of the Korean alphabet.. He contains 40 letters: 21 vowel and 19 consonants. It is divided into simple and compound letters.

simple korean letters:

  • 14 consonants (A b c d d m t f s ㅇ s ch k k k m)
  • 10 vowels (A ㅑ lor ㅕ ㅗ ㅛ ㅜ ㅡ ㅣㅅ)

Complex letters (diphthong):

ㅐㅒㅔㅖㅘ ㅙ ㅚ ㅝ ㅞ ㅟ ㅢ

Double consonants in Korean:

ㄲㄸㅃㅆ

When you master all hangul characters, you can move on to learning the rules of reading. So, let's start with the vowels.

Vowels of the Korean alphabet

Easy with vowels, almost all letters have our analogues. It's easiest to remember them in pairs.: and I, oh, wow, er, s-and.

korean letter a
a:

Letter “a” pronouncing like “a”.

korean i
yes:

Letter “I”.

about:

Letter “about”.

korean yo
yo

Letter “or”.

oh korean
уoː

Another one letter “about”, only recumbent. She's more like a sound “uo”

recumbent korean yo
yuo

And she is a couple, another one letter “or”, also recumbent. She will have a sound “yuo”

korean y
Mr:

Letter “in”.

yu korean
inn

Letter “in”.

If suddenly you met other pronunciations of these letters in other sources or textbooks of Korean, don't be scared. This happens because, that not all Korean sounds can be expressed with our letters, and each textbook author can interpret the sounds of his language in this way, as it seems to him closest to the real sound.

Don't worry, if you find it difficult to distinguish some vowels, with practice, you will begin to hear their difference and slowly understand their pronunciation for yourself. The most important – it's practice, practice, practice! Try saying phrases from songs or shows – and you won't have time to look back, How do you pronounce all sounds correctly?.

Consonants of the Korean alphabet

letter kiyok
ky:

Letter “let's go” reads like “To”, when it is at the beginning and end of a word or between two voiceless consonants. When she stands after a voiced consonant or between two vowels, it reads like “Mr”.

letter niyin
of:

Letter “no”. Pronounced like “n”. At the beginning or end of a word or at the junction of two voiced consonants, it reads as “etc”. In a position after a voiced consonant or between vowels, it reads as “d”.

Grandpa is tight
You:

Letter “tight” can be read as “etc” at the beginning and end of a word or between two voiceless consonants. After a voiced consonant, or between two vowels is pronounced like “d”.

ryil
ry, l, l

Letter “riul” pronounced differently depending on the place in the word. At the beginning of a word or between two vowels, it reads like “p”, at the end of a word or before a consonant – How “l”.

my brain
We:

Letter “my brain”. Here we are lucky, just pronounced like “m”.

peep
what:

Letter “peep” has a unique pronunciation. At the beginning and end of a word, and also at the junction between two voiceless consonants, it reads as “p”. But when it comes after a voiced consonant or between two vowels, it reads like “b”.

all
Mr:

Letter “all” – pronounce like “with”. But before iotated vowels, such as “and”, “or”, “i” and “I” becomes a special sound, something in between “with” and “sh”.

shoulder
inn

Letter “shoulder” has a nasal sound “n”, like english “ing” – [ ŋ ], but cannot be used at the beginning of a syllable.

scratch
Mr:

Letter “scratch” pronounced at the beginning and end of words, as well as between voiceless consonants like “h”. When it is after voiced consonants or between two vowels, she sounds soft “J”.

hiatus
hey:

Letter “hiatus” has sound, looking weak “p”.

The remaining consonants are divided into two groups: aspirated and double. We have only four aspirated consonants.

Prebreath consonants

Korean letter ㅋ
kh

Letter “shack” pronounced like “To” with a little breath.

Korean
Th

Letter “that's it” pronounced like a sound “etc”, but breathy.

Korean ㅍ
ph

Letter “phiip” pronounced like a letter “p” with a little breath.

Korean ㅊ
ch

Letter “the ear” sounds like a combination “h” and light breath.

Double consonants

ㄲ Korean letter
ky

Letter “ssan-kiyok”. Reads like “ky”.


letter ㄸ in Korean
You

Letter “ssan'-tigit”. Let's pronounce it like “You”.

Korean
what

Letter “ssan'-piip”. Reads like “what”.

ㅆ in Korean
ss

Letter “ssan'-siot” has sound “ss”.

ㅉ in Korean alphabet
what

Letter “ssan'-chiyt”. Reads like ” what”.

Diphthongs in Korean

ㅐ in Korean
e
ㅔ in Korean
is
diphthong ㅒin the Korean alphabet
yes
diphthong ㅖin the Korean alphabet
yeah
diphthong ㅚ in the Korean alphabet
what
diphthong ㅟ in the Korean alphabet
you
дифтонг ㅟ в корейском алфавите
and
diphthong ㅝ in the Korean alphabet
in
what
diphthong ㅞ in the Korean alphabet
and
diphthong ㅢ in the Korean alphabet
cry

Well, when you have become familiar with all the letters of the Korean language, there is only one thing left to practice. The best thing, certainly, do it under the guidance of experienced teachers on Korean courses.

But if it's not possible, There is always Youtube and tutorials, we have them soon, By the way, will publish on our blog. So check back with us. good luck learning!

Korean alphabet and reading rules

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