➣ L1: Korean Consonants 한글 알파벳 (자음)
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The vowels and consonants make up the Korean alphabet.
Most Korean education begins here, with the consonants.
Hangul is based on 14 lone consonant characters.
Quick history lesson!
The hangul alphabet was created during the Joseon dynasty by King Sejong or Janghun Great King (장헌대왕).
It is told that he was staring at the paper walls one day, and saw shapes in them (squared) and therefore made a breakthrough and managed to create the hangeul alphabet.
Simple Korean Consonants - Arranged by Difficulty
ㄴ
'ni-eun'
This character is the English equivalent to 'N'.
This is pronounced like 'n' in no.
EX: 아니요 (ah-ni-yo) : no
ㅁ
'mi-eum'
This character is the English equivalent to 'M'.
This is pronounced as 'm' in mom.
EX: 마음 (ma-eum) : heart.
ㅎ
'hee-eut'
This character is the English equivalent to H.
This is pronounced like 'h' in hoot.
향수 (hyang-soo) : perfume.
ㄹ
'ri-eul'
This character is the English equivalent to 'R' or 'L' depending on placement.
When placed in the front of a syllable, this character produces a 'R' like sound.
EX: 라면 (ra/la-myun) : ramen.
When placed in the back of a syllable, this character produces a 'L' like sound.
EX: 서울 (seo-ool) : Seoul
ㅇ
'i-eung'
This is a special consonant.
If placed at the top, it is silent.
EX: 안녕 (an-nyeong) : Hello/Well
If at the bottom, it produces an 'ng' sound like in running.
Bottom: 빙글빙글 (bing-geul bing-geul) : round and round.
Challenging Korean Consonants - Arranged by Difficulty
ㅅ
'si-ot'
This letter is most commonly the English equivalent to 'S'.
Depending on the placement, this character can be pronounced like 'S', 'T' or even 'Sh'.
When placed in the front of a syllable, this character produces a 'S' like sound if it is not proceeded by the letter 'I'
EX: 사랑 (sa-rang) : love.
When placed in the front of a syllable, this character produces a 'Sh' like sound if it is proceeded by the letter 'I'
EX: 시간 (shi-gan) : time.
When placed in the back of a syllable, this character produces a 't' like sound.
빗을 (bee-seul) : [the] comb
** the first version is an example of where the bottom ㅅ makes a sort-of 't' sound.
The pronunciation can be a challenge. The 'beet' one: the end sound is almost unheard. It's as if you're about to make the 't' sound, but nothing comes out instead.
ㅈ
'ji-eut'
This is most commonly the English equivalent to the letter 'J'
This character produces the 'j' sound like in chop if placed in the front of a word.
EX: 잘자 (jal-ja) : sleep well/good night
This character produces the 't' sound like in hot if placed in the back of a word.
EX: 찾아내다 (chat-a-nae-da) : to find
ㅊ
'chi-eut'
This is the English equivalent to the letters 'Ch'
This character produces the 'ch' sound like in itch but can also make the 't' sound like in hot if placed at the end of a word.
EX: 치읓 (chi-eut) : the letter ㅊ
ㄱ
'ki-yuk'
This is the English equivalent to the letter 'g'.
This character most commmonly produces a 'g' like sound.
This is produced like 'g' in ghost when placed in the front of a syllable, but if it is placed in the back of a syllable, it makes a 'k' like sound like 'k' in walk.
EX: 기역 (gi-yeok) : the letter ㄱ.
ㄲ
There is a double letter to this word 'ㄲ' that is a more tensed version of the 'ㄱ'
This double letter is pronounced like 'g' in gone.
EX: 깜짝 (ggam-jjak) : shocked/surprised
ㅋ
'ki-euk'
This is the English equivalent to the letter 'k'
This character produces the 'k' sound like in khaki.
EX: 칼 (kal) : knife.
ㄷ
'di-geut'
This is the English equivalent to the letter 'd'.
This character produces the 'd' sound like in talk.
EX: 당근 (dang-geun) : carrot.
ㄸ
There is a double letter to this word 'ㄸ' that is a more tensed version of the 'ㄷ'
This double letter is pronounced like 'd' in dog.
EX: 어떻게 (eo-ddeoh-ke) : How
ㅌ
'ti-eut'
This is the English equivalent to the letter 'T'
This character produces the 't' sound like in top.
EX: 탈락 (tal-lak) : elimination.
ㅂ
'bi-up'
This is the English equivalent to the letter 'b'.
This character most commonly produces the 'b' sound depending on where it is placed.
If it is placed at the beginning of a syllable, it is pronounced as 'b' in bit.
EX: Top: 별 (byul) : star.
If it is placed at the end of a syllable, it is pronounced as 'm' in most.
Bottom: 나는 ___ 입니다 (im[b]-ni-da) : I am ___.
ㅃ
There is a double letter to this word 'ㅃ' that is a more tensed version of the 'ㅂ'
This double letter is pronounced like 'b' in bird.
EX: 오빠 (oppa) : Older brother (from female -> male)
ㅍ
'pi-eup'
This is the English equivalent to the letter 'p'.
This character produces the 'p' sound like in pit.
EX: 팔 (pal) : arm.
Find the homework at quizstar!
This homework does not test on double letters.
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