Korean Pronunciation Dictionary21

This thorough guide to Korean pronunciation provides accurate and clear guidance for both beginners and advanced learners of the language. We have included detailed explanations of vowel and consonant sounds, as well as in-depth information on syllable structure, stress and intonation. Additionally, the dictionary features native Korean audio recordings of each word, so you can hear exactly how native speakers pronounce them.

Vowels

Korean has 21 vowels, which can be grouped into two categories: monophthongs and diphthongs. Monophthongs are single vowel sounds, while diphthongs are a combination of two vowel sounds that glide together to form a single syllable. Here is a table of the Korean vowels, along with their IPA symbols:| Vowel | IPA Symbol |
|---|---|
|ㅏ| [a] |
|ㅓ| [ʌ] |
|ㅗ| [o] |
|ㅜ| [u] |
|ㅣ| [i] |
|ㅐ| [ɛ] |
|ㅔ| [e] |
|ㅑ| [ja] |
|ㅓ| [jʌ] |
|ㅛ| [jo] |
|ㅠ| [ju] |
|ㅣ| [ji] |
|ㅒ| [jɛ] |
|ㅖ| [je] |
|ㅘ| [wa] |
|ㅝ| [wʌ] |
|ㅙ| [wɛ] |
|ㅞ| [we] |
|ㅢ| [ɰi] |

Consonants

There are 19 consonants in Korean. Here is a table of the consonants, along with their IPA symbols:| Consonant | IPA Symbol |
|---|---|
|ㄱ| [k] |
|ㄴ| [n] |
|ㄷ| [t] |
|ㄹ| [ɾ] |
|ㅁ| [m] |
|ㅂ| [p] |
|ㅅ| [s] |
|ㅇ| [ŋ] |
|ㅈ| [tɕ] |
|ㅊ| [tɕʰ] |
|ㅋ| [kʰ] |
|ㅌ| [tʰ] |
|ㅍ| [pʰ] |
|ㅎ| [h] |
|ㄲ| [k͈] |
|ㄸ| [t͈] |
|ㅃ| [p͈] |
|ㅆ| [s͈] |
|ㅉ| [t͈ɕ] |

Syllable Structure

Korean syllables are typically composed of an onset (initial consonant), a nucleus (vowel), and a coda (final consonant). The most common syllable structure in Korean is CV (consonant-vowel), but there are also many syllables that have a coda (CVC) or even two codas (CVCC). Here are some examples of Korean syllables with different structures:| Syllable | Structure |
|---|---|
| 가 | CV |
| 나 | CV |
| 다 | CV |
| 라 | CV |
| 마 | CV |
| 바 | CV |
| 사 | CV |
| 아 | CV |
| 자 | CV |
| 차 | CV |
| 카 | CV |
| 타 | CV |
| 파 | CV |
| 하 | CV |
| 각 | CVC |
| 낙 | CVC |
| 닥 | CVC |
| 락 | CVC |
| 막 | CVC |
| 박 | CVC |
| 삭 | CVC |
| 악 | CVC |
| 작 | CVC |
| 차크 | CVCC |
| 택 | CVCC |
| 팩 | CVCC |
| 학 | CVCC |

Stress and Intonation

Stress in Korean is usually placed on the first syllable of a word. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as when a word has a long vowel or a diphthong in the second syllable. Intonation in Korean is also important, as it can change the meaning of a sentence. For example, a rising intonation at the end of a sentence can indicate a question, while a falling intonation can indicate a statement.

Conclusion

By understanding the basics of Korean pronunciation, you will be able to speak and understand the language more clearly and confidently. We encourage you to practice these sounds regularly, both by listening to native speakers and by speaking the language yourself. With time and practice, you will be able to master Korean pronunciation and communicate effectively with native speakers.

2024-11-26

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