Korean Basic Pronunciation Guide249

If you're interested in learning Korean, the first step is to master the basics of pronunciation. Korean has a relatively straightforward pronunciation system, but there are a few key differences from English that you'll need to be aware of. In this guide, we'll cover the basic Korean vowels, consonants, and pronunciation rules.

Vowels

Korean has 10 basic vowel sounds, which are represented by the following letters:* ㅏ (a): Pronounced like the "a" in "father"
* ㅑ (ya): Pronounced like the "ya" in "yard"
* ㅓ (eo): Pronounced like the "o" in "hot"
* ㅕ (yeo): Pronounced like the "yo" in "young"
* ㅗ (o): Pronounced like the "o" in "boat"
* ㅛ (yo): Pronounced like the "yo" in "yoyo"
* ㅜ (u): Pronounced like the "oo" in "boot"
* ㅠ (yu): Pronounced like the "you" in "you"
* ㅡ (eu): Pronounced like the "er" in "her"
* ㅣ (i): Pronounced like the "ee" in "feet"

Korean vowels are divided into two groups: pure vowels and diphthongs. Pure vowels are pronounced with a single, clear sound, while diphthongs are pronounced with two sounds that glide together.

Consonants

Korean has 19 basic consonant sounds, which are represented by the following letters:* ㄱ (g): Pronounced like the "g" in "go"
* ㄴ (n): Pronounced like the "n" in "nose"
* ㄷ (d): Pronounced like the "d" in "dog"
* ㄹ (r/l): Pronounced like the "r" in "red" or the "l" in "love"
* ㅁ (m): Pronounced like the "m" in "mom"
* ㅂ (b): Pronounced like the "b" in "boy"
* ㅅ (s): Pronounced like the "s" in "sun"
* ㅇ (ng): Pronounced like the "ng" in "sing"
* ㅈ (j): Pronounced like the "j" in "jump"
* ㅊ (ch): Pronounced like the "ch" in "church"
* ㅋ (k): Pronounced like the "k" in "kite"
* ㅌ (t): Pronounced like the "t" in "top"
* ㅍ (p): Pronounced like the "p" in "pop"
* ㅎ (h): Pronounced like the "h" in "hat"

Korean consonants are divided into three groups: unaspirated, aspirated, and tense. Unaspirated consonants are pronounced without a puff of air, while aspirated consonants are pronounced with a puff of air. Tense consonants are pronounced with a stronger articulation than unaspirated consonants.

Pronunciation Rules

Here are a few general pronunciation rules for Korean:* Syllables are always pronounced with a vowel sound.
* Consonants are pronounced clearly and distinctly.
* Vowels are pronounced with a relatively high pitch.
* Tense consonants are pronounced with a lower pitch than unaspirated consonants.

With a little practice, you'll be able to master the pronunciation of Korean and communicate with confidence.

2024-11-14

Previous：German Wordplay: Exploring the Creative Use of Language

Next：Honig: A Sweet Addition to the German Vocabulary