Study Hanguel, the Korean Alphabet Part 1 (Vowels)

1. 모음과 자음 Vowels and consonants

2. 한국어의 음절 구성 Korean syllables

Korean syllables are made in 4 different manners.

(1) 모음 (vowel) 

example: 아, 오

(2) 자음 + 모음 (consonant + vowel) example: 나, 코

(3) 모음 + 자음 (vowel + consonant) example: 안, 운

(4) 자음 + 모음 + 자음 (consonant + vowel + consonant) 

example: 강, 곰

O before a vowel has no sound value. 

example: 아 is read as "ah", 오 is read as "o" 

A syllable is composed in the vertical or horizontal order.

Vertical vowels are written on the right side of the initial consonant. 

ㅏ, ㅑ, ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅣ, ㅐ, ㅒ, ㅔ, ㅖ 

= 아, 야, 어, 이, 애, 얘, 에, 예

(a, ya, eo, i, ae, yae, e, ye) 

Whereas, horizontal vowels are written under the consonant. 

 ㅗ, ㅛ, ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ 

= 오, 요, 우, 우, 으

(o, yo, u, yu, eu) 

VOWELS

The 21 vowels in Hangeul are divided into 10 basic vowels and 11 double vowels. 

Basic Vowels 

Double Vowels

Vocabulary:

와요 wa-yo (to come) 

아이 a-i (child) 

우유 u-yu (milk) 

예 ye (yes) 

왜 wae (why) 

위에 wi-e (on top of) 

Til next time! 👋

Study Korean Alphabet Part 2: Click here.