Korean Pronunciation
Master Korean sounds, intonation, and speaking patterns
Korean Pronunciation Fundamentals
Korean pronunciation is more regular than English - once you learn the rules, you can pronounce most words correctly. Understanding Korean sounds and their patterns will dramatically improve your speaking ability.
Phonetic Writing
Hangul is largely phonetic - letters represent sounds consistently, making pronunciation more predictable than English.
Syllable Structure
Korean syllables follow clear patterns: consonant + vowel + (optional final consonant). This creates a rhythmic flow.
Intonation Patterns
Korean uses rising and falling tones to express meaning, emotion, and sentence types (statements vs. questions).
Korean Vowel Sounds
Korean has 10 basic vowels. Each vowel has a consistent sound, unlike English where vowels can be pronounced differently in different words.
Basic Vowels (λ¨λͺ¨μ)
Y-Vowels (y-glide)
Korean Consonant Sounds
Korean consonants have unique characteristics. Some change pronunciation depending on their position in the syllable, and understanding these patterns is key to proper pronunciation.
Basic Consonants
Stop Consonants
Nasal Consonants
Liquid Consonant
Key Pronunciation Tips
π Aspiration
γ , γ , γ , γ are aspirated - pronounce with a strong puff of air. Hold your hand in front of your mouth to feel the difference.
πͺ Tense Consonants
γ², γΈ, γ , γ , γ are tense - pronounce with muscle tension in your throat. No aspiration, but very clear and sharp.
π Position Changes
Many consonants sound different at the beginning vs. end of syllables. Practice both positions for each consonant.
π― Final Consonants
Only 7 sounds can end Korean syllables: [k], [n], [t], [l], [m], [p], [ng]. Other letters change to these sounds.
Korean Sound Changes
When Korean sounds meet, they often change to make pronunciation easier. Understanding these patterns will help you sound more natural and understand spoken Korean better.
Consonant Assimilation
When different consonants meet, they often become similar to make pronunciation easier.
Palatalization
γ· and γ become γ and γ when followed by γ £ or y-vowels.
Tensification
After certain final consonants, following consonants become tense.
Korean Intonation Patterns
Korean intonation conveys meaning, emotion, and sentence type. Learning these patterns will make your Korean sound more natural and help you understand spoken Korean better.
Statement Intonation
Korean statements typically have a falling intonation at the end.
Question Intonation
Questions often have rising intonation, especially yes/no questions.
Exclamation Intonation
Exclamations often have high pitch and strong stress.
Korean Rhythm and Stress
Syllable-Timed
Korean is syllable-timed, meaning each syllable takes roughly the same amount of time to pronounce.
Word Stress
Korean doesn't have fixed word stress like English. Stress is usually on the final syllable or determined by grammar.
Sentence Stress
Important information gets stress through pitch changes and slightly longer duration.
Pronunciation Practice
Minimal Pairs Practice
Practice distinguishing between similar sounds that can change meaning.
γ vs γ
γ vs γ
γ± vs γ vs γ²
Tongue Twisters (μ°λ§λμ΄)
Practice difficult sound combinations with Korean tongue twisters.
Pronunciation in K-pop
K-pop offers excellent pronunciation practice! Artists often enunciate clearly for entertainment and international audiences.
π€ Listening Benefits
Clear Articulation
Singers often pronounce words more clearly than in casual speech, making it easier to hear individual sounds.
Repetitive Practice
Song repetition helps reinforce pronunciation patterns and makes practicing more enjoyable.
Intonation Training
Music naturally teaches rhythm and intonation patterns of Korean speech.
π΅ Practice Strategies
Slow Practice
Listen to songs at slower speeds to catch individual sounds and pronunciation details.
Shadow Reading
Read along with lyrics while listening to practice timing and pronunciation simultaneously.
Focus on Ballads
Slower songs make it easier to hear and practice individual sounds and words.
Rap Sections
Korean rap clearly demonstrates natural speech rhythms and sound changes.
Common Pronunciation Mistakes
β English R/L Confusion
β Vowel Confusion
β Final Consonant Release
β Ignoring Sound Changes
Practice Your Pronunciation
π΅ K-pop Pronunciation
Practice pronunciation with K-pop lyrics and clear vocal examples.
Practice with Songsπ Phrase Practice
Practice pronunciation with common Korean phrases and expressions.
Practice Phrasesπ Vocabulary Pronunciation
Practice pronouncing vocabulary words with our interactive study tools.
Study Vocabulary