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

For anyone who wants to learn Korean, mastering Hangeul, the Korean writing system, is an essential step. However, truly understanding how these new characters are used, their real pronunciation, how they function within words, and above all remembering them well enough to read fluently in the long term is often a difficult task for Korean learners.

Master Hangeul in 2 Weeks is a 14-day program in which you learn, day after day, all the secrets of Korean characters so that you can master them and never forget them again. Each day, you discover Hangeul through comprehensive lessons and a wide range of reading and writing exercises. An unlimited online training mode allows you to practice as much as you want until you reach excellence.

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