─────────────────────

Hangul Learning

─────────────────────

Friday, 10th December 2021

Vowels

Korean has eight base vowel sounds along with 13 compound vowel sounds (diphthongs) that are a combination of two base vowels voiced together in the same syllable.

Base vowels are created using three types of strokes (lines). The first stroke used to be represented by a dot (•), though in modern Korean this dot is just a simple, short stroke. The other two types of strokes are a horizontal line (ㅡ) or a vertical line (ㅣ). These symbols are combined to create the Korean vowels, for example | plus • makes ㅏ.

ㅏ :: This is like 'a' sound in the North American pronunciation of father.

Similar sound :: Father

ㅓ :: There is no exact English equivalent sound for ㅓ. Its sound is somewhere between an 'uh' sound and the ㅗ sound made with and unrounded mouth.

ㅗ ::

Similar sound :: Home

ㅜ :

Similar sound :: moon

ㅐ:: For North Americans and Brits, this is the 'e' in dress. This sound used to be different from ㅔ, however in modern korean isn't distinguished much.

Similar sound :: Dress

ㅡ :

Similar sound :: took

ㅣ:

Similar sound :: meet

ㅔ:: This sound is used to be different from ㅐ, however in modern korean isn't distinguished much. Historically, the vowel sound can be shorter - similar to the 'e' in the English word 'bed'.

Similar sound :: bed

ㅛ :: Ioitized version of ㅗ (ㅣ+ ㅗ) adds 'y' sound to the beginning.

Similar sound :: yo

ㅠ :: Ioitized version of ㅜ(ㅣ+ ㅜ) adds 'y' sound to the beginning.

Similar sound :: you

ㅑ:: Ioitized version of ㅏ(ㅣ+ ㅏ) adds 'y' sound to the beginning.

Similar sound :: yawn

ㅕ:: Ioitized version of ㅓ(ㅣ+ ㅓ) adds 'y' sound to the beginning.

ㅒ:: Ioitized version of ㅐ(ㅣ+ ㅐ) adds 'y' sound to the beginning.

Similar sound :: yes

ㅖ:: Ioitized version of ㅔ(ㅣ+ ㅔ) adds 'y' sound to the beginning.

Similar sound :: yes

ㅗㅏ :: Combination of ㅗ andㅏ

Similar sound :: wash

ㅗㅐ :: Combination of ㅗ andㅐ

Similar sound :: when

ㅗㅣ:: Combination of ㅗ andㅣ

ㅜㅔ :: Combination of ㅜ and ㅔ

ㅜ ㅓ:: Combination of ㅜ andㅓ

ㅜ ㅣ:: Combination of ㅜ andㅣ

Sound - wi

ㅡㅣ:: Combination of ㅡ and ㅣ

sound - ui

─────────────────────

Next up ⇢Graphic Tutorial

─────────────────────