Korean Vowels (모음) Set 1
| Letter | Romanization | Pronunciation Tips |
| ㅏ | a | as in hot |
| ㅑ | ya | as in yacht |
| ㅓ | eo | as in up |
| ㅕ | yeo | as in yup |
| ㅣ | i | as in meet |
Korean Study Tips
♦ There are vertical and horizontal Korean vowels.
♦ Vertical vowels are placed to the right of the first consonant in a syllable. ex. 가, 냐,더
♦ A vowel is always the second letter in a Korean syllable.
♦ All vowels with two smaller lines attached are pronounced with a “y” sound. ex. ㅕ, ㅑ
♦ Make flash cards following the example of “ㅏ” on one side and “a as in hot” on the other side.
Korean Consonants (자음) Set 1
| Letter | Romanization | Name | Pronunciation Tips |
| ㄱ | k/g | 기역 | If ㄱ follows a syllable that ends in a vowel or the letters ㄴ, ㄹ, ㅁ, or ㅇ, then ㄱ is pronounced as “g” ex. 나가 = naga, 감기 = kamgi |
| ㄴ | n | 니은 | as in no |
| ㄷ | t/d | 디귿 | If ㄷ follows a syllable that ends in a vowel or the letters ㄴ, ㄹ, ㅁ, or ㅇ, then ㄷ is pronounced as “d” ex. 가다 = kada, 먹다 = mukda |
| ㄹ | r/l | 리을 | If ㄹ is in the ending position of a syllable and a consonant starts the next syllable, then ㄹ is pronounced as “l” ex. 살다 = salda
If ㄹ is between two vowels, then ㄹ is pronounced as “r” ex. 나라 = nara |
| ㅁ | m | 미음 | as in my |
| ㅂ | p/b | 비읍 | If ㅂ follows a syllable that ends in a vowel or the letters ㄴ, ㄹ, ㅁ, or ㅇ, then ㅂ is pronounced as “b” ex. 나비 = nabi, 갈비 = kalbi |
| ㅅ | s/sh | 시옷 | If ㅅ is followed by ㅑ, ㅕ, ㅛ, ㅠ, ㅟ, orㅣ, then ㅅ is pronounced as “sh” |
Korean Study Tips
♦ To start, just focus on how Korean Hangul letters look and what their equivalent pronunciations are.
♦ Make flash cards following the example of “ㄱ” on one side and “k/g” on the other side.
♦ Knowing when to pronounce k or g (ㄱ), t or d (ㄷ), r or l (ㄹ), p or b (ㅂ), and s or sh (ㅅ) is even difficult for long time Korean language learners. Many times it sounds like a mix of the two pronunciations.
♦ Even if you mix up the pronunciations of k or g (ㄱ), t or d (ㄷ), r or l (ㄹ), or p or b (ㅂ), Koreans can often still understand.
♦ The pronunciation tip for ㅅ is important as [s] and [sh] sound fairly different.
♦ When the consonants ㄷ or ㅅare placed as the final consonant(받침) of a syllable, they are pronounced as “t” ex. 낟 = nat, 맛 = mat
Korean Consonants and Vowels Set 1
[table id=2 /]
Three Letter Syllables with Vertical Vowels
The final consonant of a syllable is called a bachim(받침).
If a consonant is added after a vertical vowel, the final consonant(받침) goes directly below the first two letters. ex. 간, 덜, 밥
[table id=3 /]
Korean Study Tips
♦ Not all of the syllables in this table are used in words.
♦ Please remember that the pronunciation of ㅅ is “s” or “sh” depending on what vowel follows it.
♦ For this reason, you should spend a little more time on ㅅ.
♦ Remember when the consonants ㄷ or ㅅare placed as the final consonant(받침) of a syllable, they are pronounced as “t” ex. 낟 = nat, 맛 = mat
My First Korean Words
| Word | Romanization | English Translation |
| 시간 | shigan | time |
| 비 | pi | rain |
| 라면 | ramyeon | ramen noodles |
| 달 | dal | moon |
| 사람 | saram | person |
| 밤 | pam | night |
| 머리 | meori | head |