Korean Pronunciation Guide [Offline]274

Introduction

Korean is a beautiful and expressive language, but its pronunciation can be tricky for non-native speakers. This guide will help you master the basics of Korean pronunciation, so you can speak with confidence.

Vowels

Korean has 10 vowels: ㅏ(a), ㅓ(eo), ㅗ(o), ㅜ(u), ㅡ(eu), ㅣ(i), ㅐ(ae), ㅔ(e), ㅒ(yae), and ㅖ(ye). The following table shows how each vowel sounds:| Vowel | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| ㅏ(a) | like the "a" in "father" |
| ㅓ(eo) | like the "u" in "put" |
| ㅗ(o) | like the "o" in "bone" |
| ㅜ(u) | like the "oo" in "boot" |
| ㅡ(eu) | like the "ur" in "turn" |
| ㅣ(i) | like the "ee" in "feet" |
| ㅐ(ae) | like the "a" in "hay" |
| ㅔ(e) | like the "e" in "egg" |
| ㅒ(yae) | like the "ya" in "yacht" |
| ㅖ(ye) | like the "ye" in "yes" |

Consonants

Korean has 19 consonants: ㄱ(g), ㄴ(n), ㄷ(d), ㄹ(r), ㅁ(m), ㅂ(b), ㅅ(s), ㅇ(ng), ㅈ(j), ㅊ(ch), ㅋ(k), ㅌ(t), ㅍ(p), ㅎ(h), ㄲ(kk), ㄸ(tt), ㅃ(pp), ㅆ(ss), and ㅉ(jj). The following table shows how each consonant sounds:| Consonant | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| 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 "roll" |
| ㅁ(m) | like the "m" in "mom" |
| ㅂ(b) | like the "b" in "boy" |
| ㅅ(s) | like the "s" in "sun" |
| 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 "cat" |
| ㅌ(t) | like the "t" in "top" |
| ㅍ(p) | like the "p" in "pop" |
| ㅎ(h) | like the "h" in "hat" |
| ㄲ(kk) | like the "k" in "kick" |
| ㄸ(tt) | like the "t" in "tot" |
| ㅃ(pp) | like the "p" in "pop" |
| ㅆ(ss) | like the "s" in "sssssss" |
| ㅉ(jj) | like the "j" in "judge" |

Syllables

Korean syllables are composed of a consonant followed by a vowel. There are two types of syllables: open syllables and closed syllables. Open syllables end in a vowel, while closed syllables end in a consonant.

The following table shows examples of open and closed syllables:| Syllable | Type |
|---|---|
| 가(ga) | Open |
| 검(geum) | Closed |

Stress

Stress is not as important in Korean as it is in English. However, there are a few general rules:* The first syllable of a word is usually stressed.
* If a word has a long vowel, the vowel is usually stressed.
* If a word has a diphthong, the second vowel is usually stressed.

Intonation

Intonation is used to convey different emotions and meanings in Korean. There are four main intonation patterns:* Rising intonation is used to ask questions.
* Falling intonation is used to make statements.
* High intonation is used to express surprise or excitement.
* Low intonation is used to express sadness or anger.

Conclusion

With a little practice, you can master the basics of Korean pronunciation. Remember to practice regularly and listen to native speakers as much as possible. Soon, you'll be speaking Korean with confidence.

2025-02-20

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