Language/Korean/Pronunciation/Write-and-Pronounce-Korean-Vowels

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Write and Pronounce Korean Vowels

The graphemes of Korean vowels[edit | edit source]

The graphemes of Korean vowels are inspired by three core elements of Korean cosmology (heaven, man, earth), to which are respectively associated three graphic elements: a mark, a vertical line and a horizontal line. In addition to the sounds they represent, therefore, the single vowels also lend philosophical significance to the words that they form. If we combine these three elements together, we obtain the vowels of the Korean alphabet. The sun (heaven) combined with man brings the graphic formation of the vowels ㅏ and ㅓ. The earth combined with the sun (heaven) brings the graphic formation of the vowels ㅗ and ㅜ. If a vowel depicts a man standing in front of a rising sun (ㅏ), or a sun rising on the earth (ㅗ) this means the vowel has a positive nuance and is considered a positive or solar vowel.

On the other hand, if the vowel depicts a man standing in front of a setting sun (ㅓ) or a sun under the earth (ㅜ), this implies a negative nuance, and the vowel is considered negative or lunar.

Even if the vowels ㅣ and ㅡ are considered neutral, they behave as lunar vowels. So do the complex vowels ㅔ, ㅐ, ㅖ, ㅐand ㅒas these include the ㅓ vowel.

Examples[edit | edit source]

Negative nuance  Positive nuance 
Writing Pronunciation Translation Writing Pronunciation Translation
덥다  [deopta] to be hot 따뜻하다  [ttatteutada] to be warm
더럽다  [deoreopta] to be dirty  다랍다  [darapta] to be lightly dirty
뚱뚱하다  [ttungttunghada] to be fat 통통하다  [tongtonghada] to be plump

Now let’s try writing the first six vowels (a, eo, o, u, eu, i). Always pay attention to stroke order, which must be strictly respected when writing Korean.

Let’s write![edit | edit source]

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Pronunciation[edit | edit source]

When practicing the pronunciation of these vowels, pay attention to the next two points:

  • ㅓ is a broad “o”. Open your mouth wide and then pronounce the sound. When pronouncing ㅗ, you half-close your mouth, like in the drawing.
  • The ㅜ vowel corresponds the long “oo” sound found in “moon” and “too.” On the contrary, ㅡ has no exact equivalent in English. It is similar to a short “oo” sound (as in “cook” and “book”) but is pronounced without puckering the lips.

You must practice these two sounds, as a mispronunciation may change the meaning of a statement. Consider for example the verb kkuda (꾸다), which means “to dream” and which can easily be confused with the verb kkeuda (끄다), which means “to turn off”.

If you mispronounce these sounds you may be misunderstood, as shown in the following examples:

Writing Pronunciation Writing Pronunciation
검  [geom]: sword  곰  [gom]: bear 
커피  [keopi]: coffee  코피  [kopi]: nosebleed 
널다  [neolda]: to hang  놀다 [nolda]: to play, to idle away

VIDEO: Korean Vowels Pronunciation and Writing[edit | edit source]

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