Korean/RWP/Lesson 5

< Korean‎ | RWP
Learn Korean (Introduction)

Read, write, pronounce Korean:
CourseLesson 1Lesson 2Lesson 3Lesson 4Lesson 5Lesson 6Summary
OrthographyEssential Pronunciation RulesAdvanced Pronunciation Rules
GrammarConversation

Consonants learned so far:
Basic
예사소리
Letter (jamo)
Romanization
Pronunciation
g or k
[g] or [k]
n
[n]
d or t
[d] or [t]
r or l
[ɾ] or [l]
m
[m]
b or p
[b] or [p]
s
[s]
- or ng
silent or [ŋ]
j or ch
[ʥ] or [ʨ]
h
[h]
Vowels learned so far:
Letter (jamo)
Romanization
Pronunciation
a
[a]
eo
[ʌ]
o
[o]
u
[u]
eu
[ɯ]
i
[i]
Letter (jamo)
Romanization
Pronunciation
ae
[ɛ]
e
[e]

Welcome back! This is the fifth lesson of "Learn to read, write and pronounce Korean". This lesson covers some variations on the letters you already learned.

The consonant ㅋ (kieuk) edit

 
ㅋ (kieuk) stroke order
Sound sample of ㅋ (kieuk) (help·info)

The first new letter is the consonant ㅋ (kieuk):

Letter (jamo):
Pronunciation: [kʰ]

The first new letter to learn is ㅋ (kieuk). It looks and similar to ㄱ (giyeok) but has an additional horizontal line, which indicates that ㅋ is aspirated. That is, ㅋ is pronounced with a burst of air. As you may recall, the difference between aspirated and unaspirated sounds is easily demonstrated by putting a hand or a lit candle in front of your mouth and saying "can" ([kʰæn]) and then "scan" ([skæn]). You should either feel a puff of air or see a flicker of the candle flame with "can" that does not appear with "scan". So, ㅋ (kieuk) is pronounced like the c in can.

Exercise edit

Try writing the following words in Korean:

Cuba (hint: Ku-ba)

쿠바

Lusaka (hint: Ru-sa-ka)

루사카

Chicago (hint: Si-ka-go)

시카고

kilo (hint: kil-lo)

킬로

Hamburg (hint: Ham-bu-reu-keu)

함부르크

Denmark (hint: Den-ma-keu)

덴마크

Oklahoma (hint: O-keul-la-ho-ma)

오클라호마

class (hint: keul-lae-seu)

클래스

Nebraska (hint: Ne-beu-rae-seu-ka)

네브래스카

Try guessing the meaning of following Korean words:

Korean: 모로코

English: Morocco

Korean: 바스켓볼

English: basketball

Korean: 홍콩

English: Hong Kong

Korean: 알래스카

English: Alaska

Korean: 슬로바키아

English: Slovakia

Korean: 케이크

English: cake

Korean: 캄보디아

English: Cambodia

Korean: 캔자스

English: Kansas

Korean: 헬싱키

English: Helsinki

Korean: 카메라

English: camera


The vowel ㅑ (ya) edit

 
ㅑ (ya) stroke order
Sound sample of ㅑ (ya) (help·info)

The first new vowel to learn is ㅑ (ya):

Letter (jamo):
Pronunciation: [ja]

The first vowel to learn is ㅑ (ya). It looks and sounds similar to ㅏ (a). The additional short line indicates that the pronunciation begins with a short "y" sound (IPA: [j]). So, ㅑ (ya) is pronounced like the ya in yahoo, the German word ja, and the Russian word я (IPA: [ja]). In the terminology of phonetics, ㅑ (ya) and the other four vowels in this lesson are the iotized versions of vowels you already learned.

Exercise edit

Try to guess the meaning of the following Korean words:

Korean: 야운데

English: Yaounde

Korean: 케냐

English: Kenya

Korean: 킨샤사

English: Kinshasa

Korean: 레이캬비크

English: Reykjavik

Korean: 노바스코샤

English: Nova Scotia

The consonant ㅌ (tieut) edit

 
ㅌ (tieut) stroke order
Sound sample of ㅌ (tieut) (help·info)

The next new letter is the consonant ㅌ (tieut):

Letter (jamo):
Pronunciation: [tʰ]

ㅌ (tieut) looks and similar to ㄷ (digeut) and but has an additional horizontal line, which indicates that ㅌ is aspirated. That is, ㅌ is pronounced with a burst of air. Again, to demonstrate the aspiration, put a hand or a lit candle in front of your mouth and say "tone" ([tʰəʊn]) and then "stone" ([stəʊn]). You should either feel a puff of air or see a flicker of the candle flame with "tone" that does appear with "stone". So, ㅌ (tieut) is pronounced like the t in tone.

Exercise edit

Try writing the following words in Korean:

Seattle (hint: Si-ae-teul)

시애틀

Boston (hint: Bo-seu-teon)

보스턴

elevator (hint: el-li-be-i-teo)

엘리베이터

Malta (hint: Mol-ta)

몰타

Amsterdam (hint: Am-seu-te-reu-dam)

암스테르담

vitamin (hint: bi-ta-min)

비타민

Austria (hint: O-seu-teu-ri-a)

오스트리아

guitar (hint: gi-ta)

기타

Rabat (hint: Ra-ba-teu)

라바트

table (hint: te-i-beul)

테이블

Try guessing the meaning of the following Korean words:

Korean: 온타리오

English: Ontario

Korean: 테니스

English: tennis

Korean: 토론토

English: Toronto

Korean: 인터넷

English: Internet

Korean: 이집트

English: Egypt

Korean: 호텔

English: hotel

Korean: 라트비아

English: Latvia

Korean: 맨하탄

English: Manhattan

Korean: 넥타이

English: necktie

Korean: 테네시

English: Tennessee


The consonant ㅍ (pieup) edit

 
ㅍ (pieup) stroke order
Sound sample of ㅍ (pieup) (help·info)

The next new letter is the consonant ㅍ (pieup):

Letter (jamo):
Pronunciation: [pʰ]

ㅍ (pieup) looks and sounds similar to ㅂ (bieup) and but has an additional horizontal line, which indicates that ㅍ is aspirated. That is, ㅍ is pronounced with a burst of air. Again, to demonstrate the aspiration, put a hand or a lit candle in front of your mouth and say "pin" ([pʰɪn]) and then "spin" ([spɪn]). You should either feel a puff of air or see a flicker of the candle flame with "pin" that does appear with "spin". So, ㅍ (pieup) is pronounced like the p in pin.

Exercise edit

Try writing the following words in Korean:

opera (hint: o-pe-ra)

오페라

Pennsylvania (hint: Pen-sil-be-i-ni-a)

펜실베이니아

pizza (hint: pi-ja)

피자

Florida (hint: Peul-lo-ri-da)

플로리다

Poland (hint: Pol-lan-deu)

폴란드

Panama (hint: Pa-na-ma)

파나마


Try guessing the meaning of the following Korean words and names:

Korean: 파리시

English: Paris

Korean: 프랑스

English: France

Korean: 엘파소

English: El Paso

Korean: 싱가포르

English: Singapore

Korean: 골프

English: golf

Korean: 미시시피

English: Mississippi

Korean: 팩스

English: fax


The consonant ㅊ (chieut) edit

 
ㅊ (chieut) stroke order
Sound sample of ㅊ (chieut) (help·info)

The next new letter is the consonant ㅊ (chieut):

Letter (jamo):
Pronunciation: [ʨʰ]

ㅊ (chieut) looks and sounds similar to ㅈ (jieut) and but has an additional horizontal line, which indicates that ㅊ is aspirated. That is, ㅊ is pronounced with a burst of air. Again, to demonstrate the aspiration, put a hand or a lit candle in front of your mouth and say "chin" ([tʃʰɪn]) and then "gin" ([dʒɪn]). Ignoring the difference in use of the vocal cords, you should either feel a puff of air or see a flicker of the candle flame with "chin" that does appear with "gin". So, although there is no precise English sound for ㅊ (chieut), it is pronounced similar to the ch in chin.

Exercise edit

Try writing the following words in Korean:

Incheon (hint: In-cheon)

인천

bench (hint: ben-chi)

벤치

kimchi (a traditional Korean dish, hint: gim-chi)

Try guessing the meaning of the following Korean words:

Korean: 매사추세츠

English: Massachusetts

Korean: 칠레

English: Chile

Korean: 차드

English: Chad

The vowel ㅕ (yeo) edit

 
ㅕ (yeo) stroke order
Sound sample of ㅕ (yeo) (help·info)

The next new vowel to learn is ㅕ (yeo):

Letter (jamo):
Pronunciation: [jʌ]

The vowel ㅕ (yeo) looks and sounds similar to ㅓ (eo). The additional short line indicates that the pronunciation begins with a short "y" sound (IPA: [j]). So, ㅕ (yeo) is pronounced like the you in young.

Exercise edit

Try to guess the meaning of the following Korean words:

Korean: 현대

English: Hyundai

Korean: 노무현

English: Roh Moo-hyun (pronounced as [no.mu.hjʌn])

Try to write the following in Korean:

Pyongyang (hint: it is pronounced like Pyeong-yang)

The vowel ㅛ (yo) edit

 
ㅛ (yo) stroke order
Sound sample of ㅛ (yo) (help·info)

The next new vowel to learn is ㅛ (yo):

Letter (jamo):
Pronunciation: [jo]

The vowel ㅛ (yo) looks and sounds similar to ㅗ (o). The additional short line indicates that the pronunciation begins with a short "y" sound (IPA: [j]). So, ㅛ (yo) is pronounced like the yo in yoga.

Exercise edit

Try to guess the meaning of the following Korean words:

Korean: 요르단

English: Jordan

Korean: 쇼핑

English: shopping


Try to write the following in Korean:

Toyota (hint: Do-yo-ta)
Tokyo (hint: Do-kyo)

The vowel ㅠ (yu) edit

 
ㅠ (yu) stroke order
Sound sample of ㅠ (yu) (help·info)

The next new vowel to learn is ㅠ (yu):

Letter (jamo):
Pronunciation: [ju]

The vowel ㅠ (yu) looks and sounds similar to ㅜ (u). The additional short line indicates that the pronunciation begins with a short "y" sound (IPA: [j]). So, ㅠ (yu) is pronounced like the English word you.

Exercise edit

Try to guess the meaning of the following Korean words and names:

Korean: 뮤지컬

English: musical

Korean: 메뉴

English: menu

Korean: 컴퓨터

English: computer

Korean: 뉴욕

English: New York

Korean: 슈퍼

English: super(market)

Korean: 뉴스

English: news

English: Albert Einstein


Try to write the following in Korean:

New Jersey (hint: Nyu-jeo-ji)
Newfoundland and Labrador (hint: Nyu-peon-deul-laen-deu Lae-beu-ra-do)
Utah (hint: Yu-ta)
New Delhi (hint: Nyu-del-li)
New Hampshire (hint: Nyu-haem-peu-syeo)
Mogadishu (hint: Mo-ga-di-syu)
Houston (hint: Hyu-seu-teon)
New Zealand (hint: Nyu-jil-laen-deu)
New Mexico (hint: Nyu-meg-si-ko)

The vowel ㅖ (ye) edit

 
ㅖ (ye) stroke order
Sound sample of ㅖ (ye) (help·info)

The next new vowel to learn is ㅖ (ye):

Letter (jamo):
Pronunciation: [je]

The vowel ㅖ (ye) looks and sounds similar to ㅔ (e). The additional short line indicates that the pronunciation begins with a short "y" sound (IPA: [j]). So, ㅖ (ye) is pronounced like the Ya in the English word Yale.

Exercise edit

Try to guess the meaning of the following Korean words and names:

Korean: 예멘

English: Yemen

English: Jesus Christ


Try to write the following in Korean:

Jerusalem (hint: Ye-ru-sal-lem)
Sarajevo (hint: Sa-ra-ye-bo)

The vowel ㅒ (yae) edit

 
ㅒ (yae) stroke order
Sound sample of ㅒ (yae) (help·info)

The next new vowel to learn is ㅒ (yae):

Letter (jamo):
Pronunciation: [jɛ]

The vowel ㅒ (yae) looks and sounds similar to ㅐ (ae). The additional short line indicates that the pronunciation begins with a short "y" sound (IPA: [j]). So, ㅒ (yae) is pronounced similar to the ye in the English word yet.

Exercise edit

Try to guess the meaning of the following Korean words and names:

Korean: 나폴레옹 보나파르트

English: Napoleon Bonaparte


Try to write the following in Korean:

Jakarta (hint: Ja-ka-reu-ta)
Plato (hint: Peul-Ra-Ton)
Maputo (hint: Ma-Pu-Tu)
Quito (hint: Ki-To)
Connecticut (hint: Ko-Ne-Ti-Keos)
Ethiopia (hint: E-Ti-O-Pi-A)
Pakistan (hint: Pa-Ki-Seu-Tan)
Qatar (hint: Ka-Ta-Reu)
Charlie Chaplin (hint: Char-Li Chae-Peur-Lin)
Empire State Building (hint: Em-Pa-I-Eo-Seu-Te-I-Teu Bil-Ding)
Rockefeller Center (hint: Rog-Pel-Leo Sen-Teo)
Socrates (hint: So-Keu-Ra-Te-Seu)
Portugal (hint: Po-Reu-Tu-Kal)
coffee (hint: Keo-Pi)
Afghanistan (hint: A-Peu-Ga-Ni-Seu-Tan)
counter (hint: Keo-Un-Teo)
Kathmandu (hint: Ka-Teu-Man-Du)
sports (hint: Seu-Po-Cheu)
sports car (hint: Seu-Po-Cheu Ka)
trumpet (hint: Teu-Reom-Pes)
North Dakota (hint: No-Seu-Da-Ko-Ta)
Kentucky (hint: Ken-Teo-Ki)
South Dakota (hint: Sa-U-Seu-Da-Ko-Ta)
California (hint: Kael-Li-Po-Ni-A)
party (hint: Pa-Ti)
Vatican (hint: Ba-ti-Kan)
Calcutta (hint: Kael-Keo-Ta)
Copenhagen (hint: Ko-Pen-Ha-Gen)
Turkey (hint: Teo-ki)
raincoat (hint: Re-In-Ko-Teu)
British Columbia (hint: Beu-Ri-Ti-Si-Keol-Leom-Bi-A)
Tripoli (hint: Teu-Ri-Pol-Li)
tape (hint: Te-I-Peu)
apartment (hint: A-Pa-Teu)
café (hint: Keo-Pe)
campus (hint: Kem-Peo-Seu)
classmate (hint: Keur-Le-Seu-Me-I-Teu)

End of lesson 5 edit

Very good! You have now learned almost all of the Korean letters. When you are ready, continue to the last lesson, Lesson 6, to learn the last of the letters: the "tense" consonants and other digraphs. (It will be easy because they are all based on letters you already know.)

Consonants learned so far:
Basic
예사소리
Letter (jamo)
Romanization
Pronunciation
g or k
[g] or [k]
n
[n]
d or t
[d] or [t]
r or l
[ɾ] or [l]
m
[m]
b or p
[b] or [p]
s
[s]
- or ng
silent or [ŋ]
j or ch
[ʥ] or [ʨ]
h
[h]
Aspirated
거센소리
Letter (jamo)
Romanization
Pronunciation
k
[kʰ]
t
[tʰ]
p
[pʰ]
ch
[ʨʰ]
Vowels learned so far:
Letter (jamo)
Romanization
Pronunciation
a
[a]
ya
[ja]
eo
[ʌ]
yeo
[jʌ]
o
[o]
yo
[jo]
u
[u]
yu
[ju]
eu
[ɯ]
i
[i]
Letter (jamo)
Romanization
Pronunciation
ae
[ɛ]
yae
[jɛ]
e
[e]
ye
[je]
Learn Korean (Introduction)

Read, write, pronounce Korean:
CourseLesson 1Lesson 2Lesson 3Lesson 4Lesson 5Lesson 6Summary
OrthographyEssential Pronunciation RulesAdvanced Pronunciation Rules
GrammarConversation