Double Consonants (Tense) (쌍자음 (된소리))
Learn the 5 double consonants: ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ. Master the "tense" pronunciation that makes Korean unique.
The Tense Consonants (된소리)
Korean has a three-way distinction for consonants that most languages don't have: plain, aspirated, and tense. You've already learned plain (ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ, ㅈ) and aspirated (ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, ㅊ). Now it's time for the tense consonants! These are written as doubled versions of the plain consonants. The secret to pronouncing them: tense your throat, and release the sound without any puff of air.
Double Consonants (Tense)
Learn the 5 double (tense) consonants: ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ. These are created by doubling the basic consonants and are pronounced with a tighter throat.
ㄲ — 쌍기역 (ssang-giyeok), kk
Like a hard, tense "k" with no aspiration. Tighten your throat and say "k" without releasing air. Similar to the "g" in "sky".
Double ㄱ stacked together -- double the force! Think of two guns: KK for "KicK"!
- 까치 (kkachi) — magpie
- 꿈 (kkum) — dream
- 꽃 (kkot) — flower
ㄸ — 쌍디귿 (ssang-digeut), tt
Like a hard, tense "t" with no aspiration. Tighten your throat and say "t" sharply. Similar to the "t" in "stop".
Double ㄷ stacked -- like two doors slamming shut. TT for "TighT"!
- 딸 (ttal) — daughter
- 떡 (tteok) — rice cake
- 땅 (ttang) — ground / land
ㅃ — 쌍비읍 (ssang-bieup), pp
Like a hard, tense "p" with no aspiration. Tighten your throat and say "p" sharply. Similar to the "p" in "spin".
Double ㅂ side by side -- double buckets! PP for "PoPcorn popping"!
- 빵 (ppang) — bread
- 빨리 (ppalli) — quickly / fast
- 뼈 (ppyeo) — bone
ㅆ — 쌍시옷 (ssang-siot), ss
Like a hard, tense "s". Tighten your throat and say "s" sharply. Stronger and more hissing than regular ㅅ.
Double ㅅ -- two tents pressed together. SS for "hiSSing Snake"!
- 쓰다 (sseuda) — to write / to use
- 씨 (ssi) — seed / Mr./Ms.
- 싸다 (ssada) — to be cheap / to wrap
ㅉ — 쌍지읒 (ssang-jieut), jj
Like a hard, tense "j". Tighten your throat and say "j" sharply. No aspiration, just tension.
Double ㅈ -- two hats stacked. JJ for "JaZZ hands" with double the energy!
- 짜다 (jjada) — to be salty
- 찌개 (jjigae) — stew
- 짧다 (jjalda) — to be short
The Science of Hangul
King Sejong designed the consonant shapes to mirror the position of the tongue, lips, and throat when making each sound. The basic shapes represent five positions of the mouth: • ㄱ (velar) -- the tongue touching the back of the mouth • ㄴ (alveolar) -- the tongue touching the ridge behind the teeth • ㅁ (bilabial) -- the lips coming together • ㅅ (dental) -- the teeth shape • ㅇ (glottal) -- the open throat The aspirated and tense versions are built by adding strokes to these base shapes. This is why linguists consider Hangul one of the most scientifically designed writing systems in history!
The Tense Consonants (된소리)
Korean has a three-way distinction for consonants that most languages don't have: plain, aspirated, and tense. You've already learned plain (ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ, ㅈ) and aspirated (ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, ㅊ). Now it's time for the tense consonants! These are written as doubled versions of the plain consonants. The secret to pronouncing them: tense your throat, and release the sound without any puff of air.