Korean Alphabet: How to Read, Write, and Pronounce for Beginners

Korean Alphabet (14 consonants and 10 vowels)

Learning the Korean alphabet, also known as Hangul (한글), is the first and most crucial step for anyone starting to study Korean. Unlike many other languages, Hangul is logical, scientific, and easy to learn. This guide will help you understand the basics of reading, writing, and pronouncing Korean characters. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your Hangul skills, this step-by-step tutorial will make it easier to master the Korean alphabet.

---

Why Learn the Korean Alphabet?

Before diving in, let’s understand why learning Hangul is so important. Many people believe that learning a language’s alphabet helps build a strong foundation. Hangul consists of 14 basic consonants and 10 vowels, designed to be easy to read and write. This alphabet allows Korean learners to quickly recognize sounds, syllables, and words, making it easier to grasp the language as a whole.

---

Basic Structure of the Korean Alphabet (Hangul)

Hangul is phonetic, meaning that each character represents a specific sound. Learning the alphabet allows you to sound out words as they are written, even if you don’t know their meanings. Hangul letters are grouped into syllabic blocks, with each block typically consisting of a consonant and a vowel (and sometimes a final consonant).

• Consonants (자음): 14 basic consonants and 5 double consonants
• Vowels (모음): 10 basic vowels and 11 complex vowels

Here’s a look at the basic Korean letters you need to know:

---

Korean Consonants (자음) with Examples:

Character	Sound	Example	Explanation
ㄱ	g/k	가 (gah)	It may sound like a K, but there is another Korean consonant that has a stronger K sound (ㅋ). Think of ㄱ as a soft G sound.
ㄴ	n	나 (nah)	Easy to pronounce!
ㄷ	d/t	다 (dah)	Might sound like “tah,” but ㄷ is a softer D sound. The consonant ㅌ has a stronger T pronunciation.
ㄹ	r/l	라 (lah)	ㄹ has a rolling L sound. It may sound like an R, but Koreans don’t have a true R consonant, so words like “Rock and roll” sound more like “Lock and Loll.”
ㅁ	m	마 (mah)	Sounds like the second “ma” in “mama.”
ㅂ	b/p	바 (bah)	May sound like a P, but there is a stronger P consonant (ㅍ). Think of ㅂ as a soft B sound.
ㅅ	s	사 (sah)	Fun fact: 사 also means the number “four” in Korean.
ㅇ	silent/ng	아 (ah)	The ㅇ consonant is silent when used at the beginning of a syllable, as in 아 (ah). However, at the end of a syllable, it sounds like "ng."
ㅈ	j	자 (jah)	Might sound like “cha,” but think of ㅈ as a soft J sound. The consonant ㅊ has a stronger “ch” pronunciation.
ㅊ	ch	차 (cha)	Pronounced like “Cha Cha,” the Cuban dance.
ㅋ	k	카 (kah)	A straightforward K sound.
ㅌ	t	타 (tah)	Similar to the English T sound.
ㅍ	p	파 (pah)	Fun fact: 파 means “spring onion.”
ㅎ	h	하 (hah)	Pronounced like the “ha” in a laugh, as in “hahaha.”

---

Watch the below video to learn the correct pronunciation of the Korean Alphabet:

Korean Vowels (모음) with Examples:

Korean Character	Sound	Example
ㅏ	a	아 (ah)
ㅑ	ya	야 (yah)
ㅓ	eo	어 (uh)
ㅕ	yeo	여 (yuh)
ㅗ	o	오 (oh)
ㅛ	yo	요 (yoh)
ㅜ	u	우 (ooh)
ㅠ	yu	유 (you)
ㅡ	eu	으 (euh)
ㅣ	i	이 (e)

---

How to Read and Pronounce Korean Alphabet for Beginners

• Start with Basic Consonant and Vowel Sounds: Begin by learning the pronunciation of each consonant and vowel. Practice saying each character out loud until you feel comfortable with the sounds.

• Understand Syllabic Blocks: Korean syllables are made up of one or more Hangul letters combined in a specific order. For example:

• “가” is a combination of ㄱ (g) and ㅏ (a), creating the syllable "ga."
• “밥” is a combination of ㅂ (b), ㅏ (a), and ㅂ (p), creating the syllable "bap."

• Practice Reading Simple Words: Try reading simple Korean words like:

• 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) – Hello
• 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) – Thank you
• 사랑해요 (saranghaeyo) – I love you

• Get Comfortable with Pronunciation Rules: There are some pronunciation changes in Korean, especially when certain consonants come together. Practice listening to native speakers and mimic their pronunciation to improve accuracy.

• Practice with Flashcards and Apps: Use flashcards or language-learning apps focused on Korean alphabet pronunciation. Regular practice will improve your reading fluency and help you memorize the characters quickly.

---

How to Write the Korean Alphabet

Writing Hangul is relatively simple because each letter has specific stroke orders. Here’s a quick overview of how to start:

• Learn the Stroke Order Rules: Each character in Hangul has a standard stroke order. Generally, start from left to right and top to bottom.

• Practice Writing Each Letter: Write each consonant and vowel multiple times, following the correct stroke order. For example:

• ㄱ (g/k) is written with a horizontal stroke first, then a vertical line.
• ㅏ (a) is written with a vertical line first, followed by a short horizontal stroke on the right.

• Write Syllables in Blocks: Combine the letters into syllabic blocks. For example:

• “한” (han) is written by combining ㅎ (h), ㅏ (a), and ㄴ (n).
• “글” (geul) combines ㄱ (g), ㅡ (eu), and ㄹ (l).

• Practice Writing Common Words: Write frequently used Korean words, such as 나라 (nara – country), 사람 (saram – person), and 친구 (chingu – friend). This will reinforce your understanding of how letters combine to form words.

Download the practice worksheets: 

Basic Korean Consonants Worksheet 1 

Basic Korean consonants

 

Basic Korean Vowels Worksheet 2

Basic Korean vowels

 

Korean Double Consonants Worksheet 3

Korean double consonants

---

Tips for Mastering Korean Alphabet Pronunciation

• Listen to Native Speakers: Watching Korean dramas, listening to Korean songs, or using language-learning apps with native pronunciation can help you get a feel for the correct sounds.

• Record Yourself: Try recording yourself while reading Korean words aloud. Compare your pronunciation with native speakers and adjust as needed.

• Practice Tongue Placement: Certain Korean sounds may be unfamiliar. Focus on where your tongue and lips should be positioned for each consonant and vowel to improve clarity.

• Repeat Regularly: Practice consistently to solidify your pronunciation. Daily repetition helps you internalize the sounds and makes reading Korean more intuitive.

---

Summary 

Mastering the Korean alphabet (Hangul) is the gateway to understanding and speaking Korean. By learning to read, write, and pronounce the characters, you’re setting yourself up for success in your Korean language journey. Whether you’re aiming to watch K-dramas without subtitles or communicate while traveling in Korea, knowing Hangul is an invaluable skill.

Start practicing today, and before you know it, you’ll be confidently reading and pronouncing Korean words!

Keywords:

• Learn Korean alphabet for beginners
• How to read Korean letters
• Korean alphabet pronunciation guide
• Read and write Korean Hangul
• Basic Korean alphabet tutorial
• Easy Korean writing for beginners
• Korean alphabet chart with pronunciation
• Korean language basics: alphabet
• How to learn Hangul fast
• Korean alphabet reading and writing tips