Korean Pronunciation: The Definitive Guide to the Sounds of Hangul311

South Korea is a country with a rich history and culture, and its unique language, Hangul, is an integral part of its identity. Hangul is a phonetic alphabet, which means that each letter represents a specific sound. This makes it a relatively easy language to learn to pronounce, but there are still some sounds that can be tricky for native English speakers. In this guide, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the sounds of Hangul, including the vowels, consonants, and diphthongs.

Vowels

Hangul has 21 vowels, which can be divided into two groups: simple vowels and diphthongs. Simple vowels are pronounced with a single sound, while diphthongs are pronounced with two sounds that glide together. Here is a chart of the simple vowels:| Letter | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| ㅏ | ah |
| ㅑ | ya |
| ㅓ | eo |
| ㅕ | yeo |
| ㅗ | oh |
| ㅛ | yo |
| ㅜ | oo |
| ㅠ | yoo |
| ㅡ | eu |
| ㅣ | ee |

The diphthongs are pronounced as follows:| Letter | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| ㅐ | ae |
| ㅒ | yae |
| ㅔ | e |
| ㅖ | ye |
| ㅘ | wa |
| ㅙ | wae |
| ㅚ | oe |
| ㅝ | wo |
| ㅞ | we |
| ㅟ | wi |
| ㅢ | ui |

Consonants

Hangul has 19 consonants, which can be divided into two groups: obstruents and sonorants. Obstruents are pronounced with a blockage of airflow, while sonorants are pronounced with a clear airflow. Here is a chart of the consonants:| Letter | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| ㄱ | g |
| ㄴ | n |
| ㄷ | d |
| ㄹ | r/l |
| ㅁ | m |
| ㅂ | b |
| ㅅ | s |
| ㅇ | ng |
| ㅈ | j |
| ㅊ | ch |
| ㅋ | k |
| ㅌ | t |
| ㅍ | p |
| ㅎ | h |

Dipthongs

Diphthongs are pronounced with two sounds that glide together. Here is a chart of the diphthongs:| Letter | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| ㄳ | ae |
| ㄵ | yae |
| ㄶ | we |
| ㄺ | wa |
| ㄼ | wi |
| ㅞ | woe |
| ㅙ | wae |
| ㅚ | oe |
| ㅒ | yae |
| ㅟ | wi |
| ㅢ | ui |

Conclusion

Hangul is a phonetic alphabet, which means that each letter represents a specific sound. This makes it a relatively easy language to learn to pronounce, but there are still some sounds that can be tricky for native English speakers. In this guide, we have provided a comprehensive overview of the sounds of Hangul, including the vowels, consonants, and diphthongs. With this knowledge, you will be well on your way to speaking Korean like a native!

2025-01-11

Previous：The Power of ‘Ab-‘: German Prefixes for Negation and Separation

Next：How to Learn Japanese Vocabulary Effectively