Lesson 2

Compound Vowels

Learn compound vowels: ㅐ, ㅔ, ㅘ, ㅙ, ㅚ, ㅝ, ㅞ, ㅟ, ㅢ, ㅑ, ㅕ, ㅛ, ㅠ

Y-vowels: Adding a 'y' sound

Adding an extra stroke to basic vowels creates 'y-' versions: ㅏ→ㅑ (a→ya), ㅓ→ㅕ (eo→yeo), ㅗ→ㅛ (o→yo), ㅜ→ㅠ (u→yu). The pattern is simple: one extra stroke = add 'y'.

야 (ya) ← 아 (a) + yyaㅑ is ㅏ with a 'y' added

요 (yo) ← 오 (o) + yyoㅛ is ㅗ with a 'y' added

ㅐae'e' as in 'bed'

Examples개gaedog

ㅔe'e' as in 'bet' (nearly same as ㅐ in modern Korean)

Examples네neyes

ㅑya'ya' as in 'yard'

Examples야구yagubaseball

ㅕyeo'yuh' — y + eo combined

Examples여름yeoreumsummer

ㅘwa'wa' as in 'want'

Examples과일gwailfruit

ㅟwi'wee' as in 'week'

Examples위wiabove / top