Korean Lessons ᚛ Level 1 - My First Steps in Korean (Lessons 1 to 30) ᚛ Lesson 3 - Learn Hangul (part 3) - Combined vowels

Learn Hangul (part 3) - Combined vowels

Learning Hangeul

• Simple vowels
• Simple consonants
• Combined vowels
• Double consonants
• Final consonant combinations

List of Compound Vowels in Korean

In Korean, simple vowels can be combined to form compound vowels.
There are 11 compound vowels in Hangeul.

ㅐ (ㅏ + ㅣ)

The vowel ㅐ is pronounced [ae], like the "e" in "men".

ㅒ (ㅑ + ㅣ)

The vowel ㅒ is pronounced [yae], like the "ye" in "yesterday".

ㅔ (ㅓ + ㅣ)

The vowel ㅔ is pronounced [e], like the "e" in "egg".

ㅐ and ㅔ are not distinguished in modern pronunciation. They sound the same.

ㅖ (ㅕ + ㅣ)

The vowel ㅖ is pronounced [ye], like the "ye" in "yellow".

ㅒ and ㅖ are not distinguished in modern pronunciation. They sound the same.

ㅘ (ㅗ + ㅏ)

The vowel ㅘ is pronounced [wa], like the "wa" in "watch".

ㅙ (ㅗ + ㅐ)

The vowel ㅙ is pronounced [wae], like the "we" in "wet".

ㅚ (ㅗ + ㅣ)

The vowel ㅚ is pronounced [we], like the "we" in "wet".

ㅝ (ㅜ + ㅓ)

The vowel ㅝ is pronounced [wo], like the "wo" in "wonder".

ㅞ (ㅜ + ㅔ)

The vowel ㅞ is pronounced [we], like the "we" in "wet".

ㅙ, ㅚ and ㅞ have very similar pronunciations.

ㅟ (ㅜ + ㅣ)

The vowel ㅟ is pronounced [wi], like the "wi" in "wig".

ㅢ (ㅡ + ㅣ)

The vowel ㅢ has no exact equivalent in English. It starts with the sound ㅡ [eu] (produced with stretched lips rather than rounded) followed quickly by ㅣ [i].

Summary

Writing Compound Vowels

The compound vowels ㅐ, ㅒ, ㅔ, and ㅖ are vertical vowels, so they are written to the right of the preceding consonant.
애, 얘, 에, 예.

The other compound vowels are both horizontal and vertical, meaning one part is placed below the consonant, and the other to the right.
와, 왜, 외, 워, 웨, 위, 의.

Exercises

Podcasts in Korean specially designed for beginners, to learn Korean by really listening to it from the very beginning.

You’re starting to learn Korean (or you already know the basics), but as soon as you listen to spoken Korean, everything suddenly feels too fast?
The words blend together, the pronunciation escapes you, and you feel like “real Korean” is very different from what you learned in textbooks.

That’s normal!
Listening comprehension is the most difficult part for all beginners.

Learn more

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