Korean Alphabet (Hangul) - A Beginner's Guide

The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, is a unique and phonetic writing system developed during the 15th century under the

Introduction:
The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, is a unique and phonetic writing system developed during the 15th century under the reign of King Sejong the Great. Hangul consists of 14 consonants and 10 vowels, which are combined to form syllables. This lesson will provide a basic understanding of the Korean alphabet and its pronunciation.

Consonants:
a. Pronunciation:

  • ㄱ (giyeok): Pronounced like "g" as in "go".
  • ㄴ (nieun): Pronounced like "n" as in "no".
  • ㄷ (digeut): Pronounced like "d" as in "dog".
  • ㄹ (rieul): Pronounced like "r" as in "run".
  • ㅁ (mieum): Pronounced like "m" as in "mother".
  • ㅂ (bieup): Pronounced like "b" as in "boy".
  • ㅅ (siot): Pronounced like "s" as in "sun".
  • ㅇ (ieung): When it appears at the beginning of a syllable, it is silent. When it appears at the end, it takes on the sound of the following vowel.
  • ㅈ (jieut): Pronounced like "j" as in "jump".
  • ㅊ (chieut): Pronounced like "ch" as in "chair".
  • ㅋ (kieuk): Pronounced like "k" as in "key".
  • ㅌ (tieut): Pronounced like "t" as in "top".
  • ㅍ (pieup): Pronounced like "p" as in "park".
  • ㅎ (hieut): Pronounced like "h" as in "help".

Vowels:
a. Pronunciation:

  • ㅏ (a): Pronounced like "a" as in "father".
  • ㅓ (eo): Pronounced like "eo" as in "hello".
  • ㅗ (o): Pronounced like "o" as in "boat".
  • ㅜ (u): Pronounced like "u" as in "rule".
  • ㅡ (eu): Pronounced like "eu" as in "book".
  • ㅣ (i): Pronounced like "ee" as in "bee".
  • ㅐ (ae): Pronounced like "ae" as in "apple".
  • ㅔ (e): Pronounced like "e" as in "bed".
  • ㅚ (oe): Pronounced like "we" as in "wet".
  • ㅟ (wi): Pronounced like "wi" as in "witch".

Syllables:
a. Combining Consonants and Vowels:

  • Syllables are formed by combining consonants and vowels in a block-like structure.
  • For example: ㄱ + ㅏ = 가 (ga), ㄴ + ㅓ = 너 (neo).

Additional Characters:
a. Double Consonants:

  • Some consonants can be doubled to indicate a stronger pronunciation.
  • For example: ㄲ (gg), ㄸ (dd), ㅃ (bb).

b. Double Vowels:

  • Vowels can also be doubled to emphasize the sound.
  • For example: ㅏ + ㅏ = 아
  • (Continued)
  • Practice Words:
    a. Start with simple words that use the basic consonants and vowels you have learned.
  • 가 (ga) - meaning "family"
  • 노래 (norae) - meaning "song"
  • 사랑 (sarang) - meaning "love"
  • 물 (mul) - meaning "water"
  • 학교 (hakgyo) - meaning "school"

Reading Practice:
a. Read simple sentences to practice your pronunciation.

  • 가방이 빨갛아요. (Gabangi ppalgatayo.) - meaning "The bag is red."
  • 나는 한국 음식을 좋아해요. (Naneun hanguk eumsigeul johahaeyo.) - meaning "I like Korean food."
  • 저는 영화를 보러 갈 거예요. (Jeoneun yeonghwaleul boreo gal geoyeyo.) - meaning "I will go to watch a movie."

  • Congratulations on completing this introductory lesson on the Korean alphabet (Hangul). Remember to practice the pronunciation of the consonants and vowels regularly and gradually expand your vocabulary. With time and practice, you will become more comfortable with reading and pronouncing Korean words. Keep exploring the fascinating world of the Korean language!

Get the latest episodes directly in your inbox

FAQ PAGE

FAQ'S

What is LinguaKorean.com

LinguaKorean.com is a effective learning platform for learning Korean. This webapp is great for learning to read Korean , expand vocabulary & have fun learning in the process Get it in one place! Story Learning : Learn while enjoying dozens of stories , soon to be hundreds of stories in Korean Self Learning Video Lessons: All lessons are focus on Vocabulary in context & grammer so you get to build a strong foundation for a consistent path towards fluency. Interesting Blog Topics: Stay up to date on Fun & Exciting Articles on Entertainment , Movies , Korean Culture & More 1 on 1 Accountability : Stay Accountable & Consistent in your learning journey & process while you have someone to Remind you of your commitment to learning Korean. Online Community : Share feedback with others in The comments : Private Learning Korean Group Coming Soon , Make life long friends & connections Workbooks : Have Workbooks Delivered to you by mail , Enhance your writing ability , your Grammer in a fun & challenging workbook , PDF as of now : Physical Copies coming Soon.

Who is LinguaKorean.com for?

We focus on colloquial Korean language rather than academic which means we won't be suitable for people looking to take a Korean proficiency test, but for people who want to learn how real Koreans speak and live on a daily basis. The way we teach is designed for English-speakers who love K-Pop and more specifically BTS

I'm completely new to learning Korean, where do I start!

Awesome! Super Great for starting the process! Almost all of our LinguaKorean.com students started off exactly where you are too! The first thing you need to do is decide HOW you want to learn! Are you a self-learner or do you NEED 1 on 1 Accountability to help you towards fluency. Self-learner: Start with the Everything for Learning Hangul course to learn the alphabet Then, Get to Know Korean Culture to learn about culture Download the 'Hardmode Korean Grammer ' workbooks here to challenge yourself more 1 on 1 Accountability : we only accept 10 Active 1 on 1 Accountability Participants each month or year depending on Active Participants . Subscribe here Wait for our response and get ready!

LinguaKorean.com?

At linguakorean.com, we believe that learning Korean should be: Fun and exciting: not boring and rigid, this isn't school Flexible: Everyone has a different learning style and life, so there's an option to fit anyone!  Encouraging: This is a Productive learning space for everyone. all teachers in Video Lessons are native English-speaking Koreans and lesson content is designed for English-speakers. This makes it infinitely easier to understand over a teacher who is a native Korean-speaker with broken English.