Hangeul Consonants
Learn Korean Consonants (한글 자음)
1. What are Korean Consonants?
Hangul, the Korean alphabet, consists of 14 basic consonants. These letters form the foundation of the Korean writing system and are simple to learn with a bit of practice!
2. The 14 Basic Consonants
Consonant | Romanization | Pronunciation |
---|---|---|
ㄱ | g/k | Similar to "g" in "go" or "k" in "kite" |
ㄴ | n | Like "n" in "no" |
ㄷ | d/t | Like "d" in "dog" or "t" in "top" |
ㄹ | r/l | A mix between "r" and "l" sounds |
ㅁ | m | Like "m" in "mom" |
ㅂ | b/p | Like "b" in "boy" or "p" in "pen" |
ㅅ | s | Like "s" in "sun" |
ㅇ | ng | Silent at the start, "-ng" at the end |
ㅈ | j | Like "j" in "jump" |
ㅊ | ch | Like "ch" in "chop" |
ㅋ | k | A strong "k" sound |
ㅌ | t | A strong "t" sound |
ㅍ | p | A strong "p" sound |
ㅎ | h | Like "h" in "hat" |
3. Simple Korean Words
Korean Word | Romanization | English Translation |
---|---|---|
가 | ga | Go |
나 | na | I |
다 | da | All |
라(디오) | ra(dio) | Radio |
마(루) | ma(ru) | Floor |
바(다) | ba(da) | Sea |
사(진) | sa(jin) | Picture |
아(기) | a(gi) | Baby |
자 | ja | Ruler |
차 | cha | Car |
카(드) | ka(deu) | Card |
타(조) | ta(jo) | Ostrich |
파 | pa | Green onion |
하(늘) | ha(neul) | Sky |
4. Tips for Learning
- Practice writing each consonant multiple times to memorize their shapes.
- Repeat the sounds out loud to get comfortable with the pronunciation.
- Pair the consonants with vowels to form syllables and simple words.