how were korean consonants made?

How Were Korean Consonants Made?

The foundation of the Korean consonants is built upon five root letters that represent the shape of the vocal organs:

• ㄱ – represents the tongue blocking the throat
• ㄴ – represents the tongue touching the upper palate
• ㅁ – represents the shape of closed lips
• ㅅ – represents the shape of the teeth
• ㅇ – represents the throat (empty circle)

The other consonants in Hangeul were created by adding strokes to these root consonants. The more strokes are added, the stronger the sound becomes.

For example, ㄱ → ㅋ (k sound becomes aspirated), ㅅ → ㅆ (s sound becomes tense).

One Exception: ㄹ

Among all consonants, there is one exception--ㄹ. While its origin is closely related to ㄴ, it does not become stronger in sound like the other stroke-added consonants. Instead, ㄹ has a unique sound closer to a flap or roll (like an 'r' or 'l' blend).

In summary, Korean consonants are designed based on the shape of articulatory organs, with sound strength indicated by stroke additions. Only ㄹ breaks this pattern.