Korean Pronunciation Guide for Everyday Conversation377

Learning Korean can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it can also be a bit daunting at first, especially when it comes to pronunciation. Korean has a unique alphabet and sound system that can be unfamiliar to English speakers. However, with a little practice, you'll be able to master the basics of Korean pronunciation and start speaking like a native.

Vowels

Korean has 10 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 a combination of two sounds.

Simple Vowels
Pronunciation
Example


ㅏ
ah
바다 (bada) - sea


ㅓ
eo
여자 (yeoja) - woman


ㅗ
oh
놓다 (nohda) - to put


ㅜ
oo
무슨 (museun) - what


ㅣ
ee
집 (jib) - house




Diphthongs
Pronunciation
Example


ㅐ
ae
개 (gae) - dog


ㅔ
eh
헤어나다 (heneunada) - to separate


ㅗ
oe
뇌 (noe) - brain


ㅟ
wi
귀 (gwi) - ear


ㅢ
eui
의자 (uija) - chair

Consonants

Korean has 14 consonants, which can be divided into three groups: voiceless consonants, voiced consonants, and aspirated consonants. Voiceless consonants are pronounced without any vibration of the vocal cords, while voiced consonants are pronounced with vibration of the vocal cords. Aspirated consonants are pronounced with a puff of air after the consonant sound.

Voiceless Consonants
Pronunciation
Example


ㄱ
g
가다 (gada) - to go


ㅋ
k
카드 (kadeu) - card


ㄴ
n
나무 (namu) - tree


ㄷ
d
다리 (dari) - leg


ㅌ
t
타다 (tada) - to ride


ㄹ
r/l
라면 (ramyeon) - ramen


ㅁ
m
마음 (maeum) - heart


ㅂ
b
바다 (bada) - sea


ㅍ
p
파도 (pado) - wave


ㅅ
s
사람 (saram) - person


ㅆ
ss
씨 (ssi) - Mr./Ms.


ㅎ
h
한글 (hangeul) - Korean alphabet


ㅇ
null
어머니 (eomeoni) - mother




Voiced Consonants
Pronunciation
Example


ㄱ
g
거짓말 (geojitmal) - lie


ㄷ
d
돼지 (dwaeji) - pig


ㅂ
b
비둘기 (bidulgi) - pigeon




Aspirated Consonants
Pronunciation
Example


ㅋ
kh
카드 (kadeu) - card


ㅌ
th
타다 (tada) - to ride


ㅍ
ph
파도 (pado) - wave

Pronunciation Tips

Here are a few tips to help you with Korean pronunciation:
Pay attention to the shape of your mouth when you pronounce each sound.
Practice speaking Korean regularly, even if you're just repeating simple words and phrases.
Listen to native Korean speakers and try to imitate their pronunciation.
Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes when they're learning a new language.

Conclusion

With a little practice, you'll be able to master the basics of Korean pronunciation and start speaking like a native. So don't be afraid to give it a try. The more you practice, the better you'll become.

2024-11-13

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