Learn to Pronounce Korean Like a Native10

Korean pronunciation can be tricky for non-native speakers, but with a little practice, you can master it. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Vowels

Korean has 21 vowel sounds, 10 of which are monophthongs (single vowels) and 11 of which are diphthongs (combinations of two vowels). The monophthongs are pronounced as follows:ㅣ (i): Like the "ee" in "feet"
ㅏ (a): Like the "a" in "father"
ㅓ (eo): Like the "o" in "hot"
ㅗ (o): Like the "o" in "cone"
ㅜ (u): Like the "oo" in "boot"
ㅡ (eu): Like the "eu" in "neutral"
ㅐ (ae): Like the "ay" in "day"
ㅔ (e): Like the "ey" in "they"
ㅚ (oe): Like the "oy" in "toy"
ㅟ (wi): Like the "wee" in "wee"

The diphthongs are pronounced as combinations of the monophthongs. For example, the diphthong ㅑ (ya) is pronounced like the "ya" in "yacht", and the diphthong ㅝ (wo) is pronounced like the "wo" in "won".

Consonants

Korean has 19 consonants, which are pronounced as follows:ㄱ (g/k): Like the "g" in "go" or the "c" in "cat"
ㄴ (n): Like the "n" in "nose"
ㄷ (d/t): Like the "d" in "dog" or the "t" in "top"
ㄹ (r/l): Like the "r" in "red" or the "l" in "love"
ㅁ (m): Like the "m" in "mom"
ㅂ (b/p): Like the "b" in "boy" or the "p" in "pop"
ㅅ (s): Like the "s" in "sing"
ㅇ (ng): Like the "ng" in "sing"
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 "house"

The consonants ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, and ㅈ are pronounced differently depending on whether they are followed by a vowel or a consonant. When they are followed by a vowel, they are pronounced as soft consonants, like the "g" in "go", the "d" in "dog", the "b" in "boy", and the "j" in "jump". When they are followed by a consonant, they are pronounced as hard consonants, like the "k" in "kick", the "t" in "top", the "p" in "pop", and the "ch" in "church".

Syllables

Korean syllables are made up of a consonant followed by a vowel. There are no consonant clusters in Korean, so each syllable is pronounced separately. The stress in Korean is usually on the first syllable of a word.

Practice

The best way to improve your Korean pronunciation is to practice regularly. You can practice by listening to native speakers, reading aloud, and speaking with other learners. There are also many online resources that can help you practice, such as YouTube videos and language learning apps.

With a little practice, you will be able to pronounce Korean like a native speaker. So don't be afraid to give it a try!

2025-02-19

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