Korean/RWP/Lesson 5

Learn Korean (Introduction) Read, write, pronounce Korean: Course — Lesson 1 • Lesson 2 • Lesson 3 • Lesson 4 • Lesson 5 • Lesson 6 • Summary Orthography • Essential Pronunciation Rules • Advanced Pronunciation Rules Grammar • Conversation

Consonants learned so far:

Basic 예사소리	Letter (jamo)	ㄱ	ㄴ	ㄷ	ㄹ	ㅁ	ㅂ	ㅅ	ㅇ	ㅈ	ㅎ
	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)	ㅏ		ㅓ		ㅗ		ㅜ		ㅡ	ㅣ
Romanization Pronunciation	a [a]		eo [ʌ]		o [o]		u [u]		eu [ɯ]	i [i]
Letter (jamo)	ㅐ		ㅔ
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)

ㅋ (kieuk) stroke order

Sound sample of ㅋ (kieuk) (help·info)

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

Letter (jamo):	ㅋ
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

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)

ㅑ (ya) stroke order

Sound sample of ㅑ (ya) (help·info)

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

Letter (jamo):	ㅑ
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

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)

ㅌ (tieut) stroke order

Sound sample of ㅌ (tieut) (help·info)

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

Letter (jamo):	ㅌ
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

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)

ㅍ (pieup) stroke order

Sound sample of ㅍ (pieup) (help·info)

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

Letter (jamo):	ㅍ
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

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)

ㅊ (chieut) stroke order

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

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

Letter (jamo):	ㅊ
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

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)

김치

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)

ㅕ (yeo) stroke order

Sound sample of ㅕ (yeo) (help·info)

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

Letter (jamo):	ㅕ
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

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)

평양

The vowel ㅛ (yo)

ㅛ (yo) stroke order

Sound sample of ㅛ (yo) (help·info)

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

Letter (jamo):	ㅛ
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

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)

도요타

Tokyo (hint: Do-kyo)

도쿄

The vowel ㅠ (yu)

ㅠ (yu) stroke order

Sound sample of ㅠ (yu) (help·info)

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

Letter (jamo):	ㅠ
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

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

Korean: 알베르트 아인슈타인

English: Albert Einstein

Try to write the following in Korean:

New Jersey (hint: Nyu-jeo-ji)

뉴저지

Newfoundland and Labrador (hint: Nyu-peon-deul-laen-deu Lae-beu-ra-do)

뉴펀들랜드 래브라도

Utah (hint: Yu-ta)

유타

New Delhi (hint: Nyu-del-li)

뉴델리

New Hampshire (hint: Nyu-haem-peu-syeo)

뉴햄프셔

Mogadishu (hint: Mo-ga-di-syu)

모가디슈

Houston (hint: Hyu-seu-teon)

휴스턴

New Zealand (hint: Nyu-jil-laen-deu)

뉴질랜드

New Mexico (hint: Nyu-meg-si-ko)

뉴멕시코

The vowel ㅖ (ye)

ㅖ (ye) stroke order

Sound sample of ㅖ (ye) (help·info)

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

Letter (jamo):	ㅖ
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

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

Korean: 예멘

English: Yemen

Korean: 예수 그리스도

English: Jesus Christ

Try to write the following in Korean:

Jerusalem (hint: Ye-ru-sal-lem)

예루살렘

Sarajevo (hint: Sa-ra-ye-bo)

사라예보

The vowel ㅒ (yae)

ㅒ (yae) stroke order

Sound sample of ㅒ (yae) (help·info)

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

Letter (jamo):	ㅒ
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

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)

자카르타

Plato (hint: Peul-Ra-Ton)

플라톤

Maputo (hint: Ma-Pu-Tu)

마푸투

Quito (hint: Ki-To)

키토

Connecticut (hint: Ko-Ne-Ti-Keos)

코네티컷

Ethiopia (hint: E-Ti-O-Pi-A)

에티오피아

Pakistan (hint: Pa-Ki-Seu-Tan)

파키스탄

Qatar (hint: Ka-Ta-Reu)

카타르

Charlie Chaplin (hint: Char-Li Chae-Peur-Lin)

찰리 채플린

Empire State Building (hint: Em-Pa-I-Eo-Seu-Te-I-Teu Bil-Ding)

엠파이어스테이트 빌딩

Rockefeller Center (hint: Rog-Pel-Leo Sen-Teo)

록펠러 센터

Socrates (hint: So-Keu-Ra-Te-Seu)

소크라테스

Portugal (hint: Po-Reu-Tu-Kal)

포르투갈

coffee (hint: Keo-Pi)

커피

Afghanistan (hint: A-Peu-Ga-Ni-Seu-Tan)

아프가니스탄

counter (hint: Keo-Un-Teo)

커운터

Kathmandu (hint: Ka-Teu-Man-Du)

카트만두

sports (hint: Seu-Po-Cheu)

스포츠

sports car (hint: Seu-Po-Cheu Ka)

스포츠 카

trumpet (hint: Teu-Reom-Pes)

트럼펫

North Dakota (hint: No-Seu-Da-Ko-Ta)

노스다코타

Kentucky (hint: Ken-Teo-Ki)

켄터키

South Dakota (hint: Sa-U-Seu-Da-Ko-Ta)

사우스다코타

California (hint: Kael-Li-Po-Ni-A)

캘리포니아

party (hint: Pa-Ti)

파티

Vatican (hint: Ba-ti-Kan)

바티칸

Calcutta (hint: Kael-Keo-Ta)

캘커타

Copenhagen (hint: Ko-Pen-Ha-Gen)

코펜하겐

Turkey (hint: Teo-ki)

터키

raincoat (hint: Re-In-Ko-Teu)

레인코트

British Columbia (hint: Beu-Ri-Ti-Si-Keol-Leom-Bi-A)

브리티시컬럼비아

Tripoli (hint: Teu-Ri-Pol-Li)

트리폴리

tape (hint: Te-I-Peu)

테이프

apartment (hint: A-Pa-Teu)

아파트

café (hint: Keo-Pe)

커페

campus (hint: Kem-Peo-Seu)

켐퍼스

classmate (hint: Keur-Le-Seu-Me-I-Teu)

클레스메이트

End of lesson 5

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)	ㄱ	ㄴ	ㄷ	ㄹ	ㅁ	ㅂ	ㅅ	ㅇ	ㅈ	ㅎ
	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)	ㅋ		ㅌ			ㅍ			ㅊ
	Romanization Pronunciation	k [kʰ]		t [tʰ]			p [pʰ]			ch [ʨʰ]

Vowels learned so far:

Letter (jamo)	ㅏ	ㅑ	ㅓ	ㅕ	ㅗ	ㅛ	ㅜ	ㅠ	ㅡ	ㅣ
Romanization Pronunciation	a [a]	ya [ja]	eo [ʌ]	yeo [jʌ]	o [o]	yo [jo]	u [u]	yu [ju]	eu [ɯ]	i [i]
Letter (jamo)	ㅐ	ㅒ	ㅔ	ㅖ
Romanization Pronunciation	ae [ɛ]	yae [jɛ]	e [e]	ye [je]

Learn Korean (Introduction) Read, write, pronounce Korean: Course — Lesson 1 • Lesson 2 • Lesson 3 • Lesson 4 • Lesson 5 • Lesson 6 • Summary Orthography • Essential Pronunciation Rules • Advanced Pronunciation Rules Grammar • Conversation