Learning Guide

Hangeul

hangeul

Hangeul also spelled Hangul is the alphabetic system used to write the Korean language. This writing system consists of 24 letters, including 14 consonants and 10 vowels. Consonant characters are formed with curved or angular lines. Vowels are composed of straight vertical or horizontal lines as well as short lines on either side of the main line.

한글

Introduction

Hangeul 한글 is the official alphabet of South Korea. It was established in 1443 by King Sejong the Great with the aim of promoting literacy and making it easier to write the Korean language.

Before the introduction of Hangeul, Koreans used Chinese characters to write their language. However, Chinese characters were difficult to learn and use for people who had not been trained in Chinese, which limited access to education and communication for the majority of the population.

So King Sejong commissioned a group of scholars to create an easier-to-learn and easier-to-use alphabet for writing Korean. They thus created hangeul, which consists of 14 consonants and 10 vowels. The alphabet is unique in that it is based on the shape of the mouth when speaking sounds, rather than the shape of Chinese characters.

How it works?

Hangeul consists of 14 consonants and 10 vowels, which means there are 24 or letters in total. Since all words in Korean are made up of syllables, let's take a look at the basic rules:

  1. A syllable always begins with a consonant
  2. A syllable has at least one consonant and one vowel
  3. Each syllable is in the form of a square
  4. The maximum number of letters is 5 per syllable

The Hangul alphabet

기본 자음
Basic Consonants

There are 14 simple consonants which are grouped into two categories: aspirated consonants and unaspirated consonants. Aspirated consonants are produced with a small burst of air, while unaspirated consonants are produced without this air burst.

g / k
n
d / t
r / l
m
b / p
s
ng
j
ch
k
t
p
h

쌍자음
Double Consonants

In Korean, there are also compound consonants, double consonants or also called 'combined consonants'. They are formed by combining two single consonants to form a new consonant which has a stronger pronunciation.

kk
tt
pp
ss
jj

모음
Vowels

Korean vowels are the basic sounds used in the Korean language to form syllables. There are ten simple vowels and eleven compound vowels in Korean. Simple vowels are pure sounds that are pronounced without changing the shape of the mouth or the position of the tongue. Compound vowels, on the other hand, are formed by combining two simple vowels to form a new sound.

a
ya
eo
yeo
o
yo
u
yu
eu
i

복합 모음
Vowels Combinations

By combining two basic vowels, we can form a set of eleven compound vowels.

ae
yae
e
ye
wa
wae
oe
wo
we
wi
eui

Need a Course?
Learn Hangeul

Progressive Lesson

We've broken down the Hangeul alphabet into several lessons so you can learn how to read and write each letter.

Practical Exercise

Practice each letter learned with flashcards, memory games as well as word reading exercises (+80 words).

Even More

And also, stroke order, pronunciation, writing sheets (for members). As well as summary tables, wallpapers and many more.


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한글표
Hangeul Chart

Here is a table with the basic consonants and vowels and their possible combinations. You can view the romanized version by clicking the button below.

Idea of use

Read each syllable aloud and check with the romanization option if your pronunciation is correct.


ga

gya

geo

gyeo

go

gyo

gu

gyu

geu

gi

na

nya

neo

nyeo

no

nyo

nu

nyu

neu

ni

da

dya

deo

dyeo

do

dyo

du

dyu

deu

di

ra

rya

reo

ryeo

ro

ryo

ru

ryu

reu

ri

ma

mya

meo

myeo

mo

myo

mu

myu

meu

mi

ba

bya

beo

byeo

bo

byo

bu

byu

beu

bi

sa

sya

seo

syeo

so

syo

su

syu

seu

si

a

ya

eo

yeo

o

yo

u

yu

eu

i

ja

jya

jeo

jyeo

jo

jyo

ju

jyu

jeu

ji

cha

chya

cheo

chyeo

cho

chyo

chu

chyu

cheu

chi

ka

kya

keo

kyeo

ko

kyo

ku

kyu

keu

ki

ta

tya

teo

tyeo

to

tyo

tu

tyu

teu

ti

pa

pya

peo

pyeo

po

pyo

pu

pyu

peu

pi

ha

hya

heo

hyeo

ho

hyo

hu

hyu

heu

hi