How to Pronounce Korean15

Korean is a beautiful and expressive language, but it can be difficult for native English speakers to pronounce correctly. The good news is that with a little practice, you can master the basics of Korean pronunciation.

The Korean Alphabet

The Korean alphabet, called Hangeul, is made up of 24 letters. 14 of these letters are consonants, and 10 are vowels. The consonants are divided into two groups: obstruents and sonorants. Obstruents are sounds that are produced by blocking the airflow through the mouth, while sonorants are sounds that are produced by allowing the airflow to pass through the mouth without being blocked.

Consonants

The following table shows the Korean consonants and their IPA equivalents:

Korean
IPA


ㄱ
/k/


ㄴ
/n/


ㄷ
/t/


ㄹ
/ɾ/


ㅁ
/m/


ㅂ
/p/


ㅅ
/s/


ㅇ
/ŋ/


ㅈ
/t͡ʃ/


ㅊ
/t͡ʃʰ/


ㅋ
/kʰ/


ㅌ
/tʰ/


ㅍ
/pʰ/


ㅎ
/h/

Vowels

The following table shows the Korean vowels and their IPA equivalents:

Korean
IPA


ㅏ
/a/


ㅑ
/ja/


ㅓ
/ʌ/


ㅕ
/jʌ/


ㅗ
/o/


ㅛ
/jo/


ㅜ
/u/


ㅠ
/ju/


ㅡ
/ɯ/


ㅣ
/i/

Pronunciation Tips

Here are some tips for pronouncing Korean correctly:
Pay attention to the aspiration of consonants. Aspiration is the release of a puff of air after a consonant is pronounced. In Korean, the consonants ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅋ, ㅌ, and ㅍ are aspirated when they occur at the beginning of a syllable.
Pronounce the vowels clearly. Korean vowels are pronounced with a clear and distinct sound. Avoid diphthongizing the vowels, which means pronouncing them as two sounds instead of one.
Use the correct intonation. Korean intonation is different from English intonation. In Korean, the pitch of the voice usually rises at the end of a sentence.
Listen to native speakers. The best way to learn how to pronounce Korean correctly is to listen to native speakers. You can find many recordings of native Korean speakers online.

With a little practice, you will be able to master the basics of Korean pronunciation. So get out there and start speaking Korean!

2024-11-20

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