Lesson 3

Basic Consonants (Part 1)

Learn the first 7 consonants: ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, ㄹ, ㅁ, ㅂ, ㅅ

Forming Syllable Blocks

Korean is written in syllable blocks: consonant + vowel (CV) or consonant + vowel + consonant (CVC). For example, 가 = ㄱ+ㅏ, 간 = ㄱ+ㅏ+ㄴ. Vertical vowels go to the right of the consonant, horizontal vowels go below.

나 = ㄴ + ㅏnaconsonant ㄴ + vowel ㅏ = na (I/me)

밤 = ㅂ + ㅏ + ㅁbamㅂ + ㅏ + ㅁ (final consonant) = bam (night/chestnut)

무 = ㅁ + ㅜmuconsonant ㅁ + vowel ㅜ = mu (radish)

ㄱg/k'g' as in 'go' (beginning), 'k' at end of syllable

Examples가방gabangbag

ㄴn'n' as in 'no'

Examples나라naracountry

ㄷd/t'd' as in 'do' (beginning), 't' at end

Examples다리darileg / bridge

ㄹr/l'r' between vowels, 'l' at end — similar to Japanese ら行

Examples라면ramyeonramen / instant noodles

ㅁm'm' as in 'mom'

Examples모자mojahat

ㅂb/p'b' as in 'boy' (beginning), 'p' at end

Examples바다badasea

ㅅs's' as in 'sun' (becomes 'sh' before ㅣ)

Examples사과sagwaapple