The Sound of Korean ‘h‘303

The Korean letter 'h' represents a unique sound that is not found in many other languages. It is a voiceless glottal fricative, which means that it is produced by constricting the airflow in the throat without vibrating the vocal cords. This results in a sound that is similar to the English 'h' in words like "hat" or "house," but it is slightly more pronounced and guttural.

The Korean 'h' is often used in the middle or at the end of words. It can also be used to create emphasis or to indicate a question. For example, the word "hana" (one) is pronounced with a light 'h' sound at the end, while the word "hani" (where) is pronounced with a stronger 'h' sound in the middle.

The Korean 'h' can be difficult for non-native speakers to pronounce. This is because it requires a specific placement of the tongue and throat. To practice pronouncing the Korean 'h,' try saying the English word "hat" with a more pronounced and guttural sound. You can also try practicing the following Korean words:
hana (one)
dul (two)
hani (where)
haksaeng (student)
heukgisa (teacher)

With practice, you will be able to pronounce the Korean 'h' correctly. This will help you to speak Korean more fluently and confidently.

Tips for Pronouncing the Korean 'h'* Place the tip of your tongue behind your lower teeth.
* Constrict the airflow in your throat by bringing the back of your tongue close to the epiglottis.
* Push air through the constriction to create a fricative sound.
* Make sure not to vibrate your vocal cords.

Common Mistakes* Pronouncing the 'h' as a voiceless velar fricative (like the 'h' in "loch")
* Pronouncing the 'h' as a voiceless glottal stop (like the 'h' in "uh-oh")
* Omitting the 'h' sound altogether

Practice Sentences* Hana, dul, set (one, two, three)
* Annyeonghaseyo (hello)
* Gamsahamnida (thank you)
* Hani gaseyo? (where are you going?)
* Haksaeng-imnida (I am a student)

2025-01-29

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