How to Read Korean - Lesson 1: Consonants

This is lesson 1 of 'How to Read Korean'. In this first lesson, I will teach you basic consonants of Korean alphabet. Korean alphabet is called 'Hangeul' and there are 14 basic consonants in Hangeul. I will tell you which letter can be related to English Alphabet, so that you can easily remember them.

 

Here are first 4 letters of Hangeul consonant,

• First one has sound more like G as in Game, but sometimes they use K for this one too. For example, Kim, the most common last name in Korea starts with this letter.
• Second letter is pronounced as N.
• Third letter is pronounced as D.
• Fourth letter is pronounced similar as L or R, but not exactly. It is more like between these two letters. That’s why a lot of Koreans have hard time pronouncing R sound and L sound when they speak in English.

Here are next 4 letters.

• First one is pronounced as M.
• Second letter is pronounced as B.Third letter is pronounced as S.
• Last one does not have any sound.

Here are next four letters.

• First one is pronounced as J.
• Second one is pronounced as CH-  in 'chain'
• Third letter is pronounced as K.
• Last letter is pronounced as T.

Here are last two letters of Hangeul

• First one is pronounced as P.
• Last one is pronounced as H.