Korean Pronunciation Guide and Sound Chart225

Introduction

Korean is a phonetic language, meaning that each letter corresponds to a single sound, and its pronunciation is consistent throughout the language. Learning Korean pronunciation can be challenging for native English speakers due to the use of sounds that do not exist in English. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of Korean sound rules and pronunciation, including a detailed sound chart for reference.

Vowels

Korean has 21 vowel sounds, which can be divided into three main categories: monophthongs, diphthongs, and triphthongs. Monophthongs are single vowel sounds, such as the sounds represented by the letters "a" and "o". Diphthongs are combinations of two vowel sounds, such as the sound represented by the letter "ai". Triphthongs are combinations of three vowel sounds, such as the sound represented by the letter "eau".

Monophthongs

ㅏ (a) - like the "a" in "father"
ㅑ (ya) - like the "ya" in "yard"
ㅓ (eo) - like the "eo" in "George"
ㅕ (yeo) - like the "yeo" in "yell"
ㅗ (o) - like the "o" in "note"
ㅛ (yo) - like the "yo" in "yolk"
ㅜ (u) - like the "oo" in "boot"
ㅠ (yu) - like the "yu" in "yule"
ㅡ (eu) - like the "eu" in "neutral"
ㅣ (i) - like the "ee" in "feet"

Diphthongs

ㅐ (ae) - like the "ai" in "bite"
ㅒ (yae) - like the "yai" in "yacht"
ㅔ (e) - like the "ay" in "day"
ㅖ (ye) - like the "yay" in "yay"
ㅘ (wa) - like the "wa" in "want"
ㅙ (wae) - like the "wai" in "wait"
ㅚ (oe) - like the "oy" in "boy"
ㅝ (wo) - like the "wo" in "work"
ㅞ (we) - like the "way" in "way"
ㅟ (wi) - like the "wee" in "week"

Triphthongs

ㅑ이 (yai) - like the "yai" in "yachts"
얘 (yae) - like the "yay" in "yay"
외 (oe) - like the "oey" in "boey"
위 (wi) - like the "wee" in "week"

Consonants

Korean has 19 consonant sounds, which can be divided into four main categories: stops, affricates, fricatives, and nasals. Stops are consonants that are produced by completely blocking the airflow, such as the sounds represented by the letters "p" and "b". Affricates are consonants that are produced by a combination of a stop and a fricative, such as the sound represented by the letter "ch" in English. Fricatives are consonants that are produced by directing the airflow through a narrow channel, such as the sounds represented by the letters "f" and "s". Nasals are consonants that are produced by allowing the airflow to pass through the nose, such as the sounds represented by the letters "m" and "n".

Stops

ㄱ (g) - like the "g" in "go"
ㄲ (kk) - like the "k" in "kick"
ㄷ (d) - like the "d" in "do"
ㄸ (tt) - like the "t" in "stop"
ㅂ (b) - like the "b" in "ball"
ㅃ (bb) - like the "p" in "pop"

Affricates

ㅈ (j) - like the "j" in "job"
ㅊ (ch) - like the "ch" in "church"

Fricatives

ㅅ (s) - like the "s" in "sin"
ㅆ (ss) - like the "sh" in "shoe"
ㅎ (h) - like the "h" in "hot"
ㅁ (m) - like the "m" in "mom"
ㄴ (n) - like the "n" in "no"
ㅇ (ng) - like the "ng" in "sing"

Sound Chart

The following table provides a comprehensive sound chart for Korean vowels and consonants.
| Vowels | Consonants |
|---|---|
| ㅏ (a) | ㄱ (g) |
| ㅑ (ya) | ㄲ (kk) |
| ㅓ (eo) | ㄷ (d) |
| ㅕ (yeo) | ㄸ (tt) |
| ㅗ (o) | ㅂ (b) |
| ㅛ (yo) | ㅃ (bb) |
| ㅜ (u) | ㅈ (j) |
| ㅠ (yu) | ㅊ (ch) |
| ㅡ (eu) | ㅅ (s) |
| ㅣ (i) | ㅆ (ss) |
| ㅐ (ae) | ㅎ (h) |
| ㅒ (yae) | ㅁ (m) |
| ㅔ (e) | ㄴ (n) |
| ㅖ (ye) | ㅇ (ng) |
| ㅘ (wa) | |
| ㅙ (wae) | |
| ㅚ (oe) | |
| ㅝ (wo) | |
| ㅞ (we) | |
| ㅟ (wi) | |
| ㅑ이 (yai) | |
| 얘 (yae) | |
| 외 (oe) | |
| 위 (wi) | |