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  3. Korean Pronunciation
  • Front Vowel
  • Central Vowel
  • Back Vowel
  • y(ㅣ)-Glide Diphthong
  • w(ㅗ/ㅜ)-Glide Diphthong
  • (ㅢ) Diphthong
  • Bilabial Consonant
  • Alveolar Consonant
  • Palatal Consonant
  • Velar Consonant
  • Glottal Consonant

Pronunciation

ㅣ/i/

Basic sound

  • IPA: /i/
  • Closest English sound:

“ee” in see, machine

How to pronounce it

1. Tongue:

  • Raised high and forward
  • The front of the tongue is close to the hard palate

2. Lips:

  • Unrounded
  • Slightly spread (like a small smile)

3. Jaw:

  • Almost closed

4. Voice:

  • Voiced (vocal cords vibrate)

Hold the sound pure and steady, without turning it into /ɪ/ like sit.


Syllables composed by ㅣ and examples of words
No.
Vowel
Syllable
Word
Meaning
1 ㅣ 이 이름 name

Pronunciation

ㅔ/e/

Basic sound

• IPA: /e/

• Closest English sound:

“e” in bed (but Korean ㅔ is slightly higher and tenser)

Between bed /e/ and say /eɪ/ (without the glide)

Important: Do NOT pronounce it as ay (/eɪ/).

How to pronounce it

1. Tongue:

  • Front of the tongue is mid-high
  • Slightly lower than ㅣ

2. Lips:

  • Unrounded
  • Slightly spread

3. Jaw:

  • Open a little more than for ㅣ

4. Voice:

  • Voiced, short, steady

Keep the vowel pure, no movement in the mouth.


Syllables composed by ㅔ and examples of words
No.
Vowel
Syllable
Word
Meaning
1 ㅔ 에 에 at, in, on, to

Pronunciation

ㅐ/ɛ/

Basic sound

• IPA: /ɛ/

• Closest English sound:

“e” in bed

Very similar to “a” in cat for some speakers (but less open)

ㅐ is more open than ㅔ, and sounds lighter and wider.

How to pronounce it

1. Tongue:

  • Front of the tongue is mid-low
  • Lower than ㅔ

2. Lips:

  • Unrounded
  • Slightly spread

3. Jaw:

  • Open more than ㅔ

4. Voice:

  • Voiced, short, steady


Syllables composed by ㅐ and examples of words
No.
Vowel
Syllable
Word
Meaning
1 ㅐ 애 애인 lover

Pronunciation

ㅚ/ø/ /we/

Basic sound

• IPA (traditional): /ø/

• IPA (modern Seoul Korean): /we/ or /wɛ/

Historically, ㅚ was a single rounded front vowel like French eu, but today it is usually pronounced as a diphthong.

Modern standard pronunciation (recommended)

• Start with /w/ (lips rounded)

• Move quickly to /e/ or /ɛ/

• Do not pronounce it as plain oi

How to pronounce it (modern)

1. Lips:

Start rounded, then relax slightly

2. Tongue:

Moves from back/central to front-mid

3. Jaw:

Slightly opens during the glide

4. Timing:

Smooth, quick transition: we


Syllables composed by ㅚ and examples of words
No.
Vowel
Syllable
Word
Meaning
1 ㅚ 외 외국어 foreign language

Pronunciation

ㅟ/y/ /wi/

Basic sound

• IPA (traditional): /y/

• IPA (modern Seoul Korean): /wi/

Historically, ㅟ was a single front rounded vowel like French u in lune,but modern Korean pronounces it as a diphthong.

Modern standard pronunciation (recommended)

• Start with /w/

• Glide smoothly to /i/

• Sound like “wee”, but shorter and cleaner

How to pronounce it

1. Lips:

  • Start rounded
  • Unround slightly toward the end

2. Tongue:

  • Moves quickly to a high front position (for ㅣ)

3. Jaw:

  • Almost closed

4. Timing:

  • One smooth glide, not two separate vowels


Syllables composed by ㅟ and examples of words
No.
Vowel
Syllable
Word
Meaning
1 ㅟ 위 위생 hygiene
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Greetings

This collection of 100 essential expressions focuses on greetings, daily interactions, politeness, and emotional connection—covering situations such as meeting someone, parting ways, showing gratitude, offering support, and expressing care.

Rather than memorizing isolated words, these phrases help learners understand how Korean is naturally used in real-life conversations. Many expressions include important cultural elements such as respect, hierarchy, and warmth, which are central to Korean communication.

By studying these phrases, learners will:

  • Develop practical speaking skills for daily conversations
  • Understand common sentence patterns and polite forms
  • Gain confidence in social and professional interactions
  • Become familiar with Korean cultural nuances

    Course Image

    Greetings

    This collection of 100 essential expressions focuses on greetings, daily interactions, politeness, and emotional connection—covering situations such as meeting someone, parting ways, showing gratitude, offering support, and expressing care.

    Rather than memorizing isolated words, these phrases help learners understand how Korean is naturally used in real-life conversations. Many expressions include important cultural elements such as respect, hierarchy, and warmth, which are central to Korean communication.

    By studying these phrases, learners will:

    • Develop practical speaking skills for daily conversations
    • Understand common sentence patterns and polite forms
    • Gain confidence in social and professional interactions
    • Become familiar with Korean cultural nuances

      Course Image

      Greetings

      This collection of 100 essential expressions focuses on greetings, daily interactions, politeness, and emotional connection—covering situations such as meeting someone, parting ways, showing gratitude, offering support, and expressing care.

      Rather than memorizing isolated words, these phrases help learners understand how Korean is naturally used in real-life conversations. Many expressions include important cultural elements such as respect, hierarchy, and warmth, which are central to Korean communication.

      By studying these phrases, learners will:

      • Develop practical speaking skills for daily conversations
      • Understand common sentence patterns and polite forms
      • Gain confidence in social and professional interactions
      • Become familiar with Korean cultural nuances