Korean Pronunciation Guide for English Speakers289

Korean is a beautiful and expressive language, but its pronunciation can be a bit challenging for native English speakers. The good news is that, with a little practice, you can master the basics of Korean pronunciation. Here's a guide to help you get started:

Vowels

Korean has 10 vowels, which are pronounced as follows:* 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 "yes"
* ㅗ (o) - like the "o" in "go"
* ㅛ (yo) - like the "yo" in "yodel"
* ㅜ (u) - like the "u" in "put"
* ㅠ (yu) - like the "yu" in "future"
* ㅡ (eu) - like the "eu" in "neutral"
* ㅣ (i) - like the "i" in "sit"

Consonants

Korean has 14 consonants, which are pronounced as follows:* ㄱ (g) - like the "g" in "go"
* ㄴ (n) - like the "n" in "no"
* ㄷ (d) - like the "d" in "dog"
* ㄹ (r) - like the "r" in "run"
* ㅁ (m) - like the "m" in "mom"
* ㅂ (b) - like the "b" in "boy"
* ㅅ (s) - like the "s" in "sit"
* ㅈ (j) - like the "j" in "jump"
* ㅊ (ch) - like the "ch" in "church"
* ㅋ (k) - like the "k" in "kick"
* ㅌ (t) - like the "t" in "top"
* ㅍ (p) - like the "p" in "pop"
* ㅎ (h) - like the "h" in "hat"

Syllables

Korean syllables are always made up of a consonant followed by a vowel. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but they are relatively rare. The syllable structure of a Korean word can be represented as follows:```
CV
```
where C is a consonant and V is a vowel.

Stress and Intonation

Stress in Korean is generally placed on the last syllable of a word. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as when a word is followed by a particle. Intonation in Korean is relatively flat, but there is a slight rise and fall in the pitch of the voice when speaking a question.

Practice

The best way to master Korean pronunciation is to practice regularly. Here are a few tips to help you get started:* Listen to native Korean speakers. You can find Korean audio and video recordings online, or you can watch Korean movies and TV shows.
* Repeat after native Korean speakers. This will help you to get the hang of the pronunciation and intonation of Korean.
* Practice speaking Korean with a native speaker. This is the best way to get feedback on your pronunciation and to learn how to speak Korean fluently.
With a little practice, you can master the basics of Korean pronunciation and start speaking Korean with confidence.

2025-02-13

Previous：Interactive Japanese Vocabulary Booster for 8th Graders

Next：German Nouns with Multiple Meanings