Basic Vowels (기본 모음)
Learn the 6 basic vowels: ㅏ, ㅓ, ㅗ, ㅜ, ㅡ, ㅣ. These combine with consonants to form every Korean syllable.
Korean Vowels
Korean has 10 basic vowels (and 11 compound vowels you'll learn later). In this lesson, you'll learn the 6 simplest vowels. Unlike English, each Korean vowel has one consistent sound -- no guessing! Remember: vowels can't be written alone. They always pair with a consonant. When a syllable starts with a vowel sound, we use the silent placeholder ㅇ.
Basic Vowels
Learn the 6 basic Korean vowels: ㅏ, ㅓ, ㅗ, ㅜ, ㅡ, ㅣ. These are the building blocks for all Korean vowel sounds.
ㅏ — 아 (a), a
Like "a" in "father" or "spa". Open your mouth wide.
A vertical line with a horizontal stroke to the right -- like a person standing and reaching their Arm out to the right. "Ah!" they say while stretching!
- 아기 (agi) — baby
- 아빠 (appa) — dad
- 가다 (gada) — to go
ㅓ — 어 (eo), eo
Like "u" in "hut" or "uh". Open your mouth slightly less than ㅏ. NOT like English "eo".
A vertical line with a horizontal stroke to the left -- the opposite of ㅏ. The person turns the Other way and says "uh!".
- 어머니 (eomeoni) — mother (formal)
- 언니 (eonni) — older sister (for females)
- 거리 (geori) — street / distance
ㅗ — 오 (o), o
Like "o" in "go" or "hope". Round your lips into a circle.
A horizontal line with a vertical stroke going Up -- like a sprout growing upward from the ground. "Oh!" how it grows up!
- 오리 (ori) — duck
- 오빠 (oppa) — older brother (for females)
- 고양이 (goyangi) — cat
ㅜ — 우 (u), u
Like "oo" in "moon" or "food". Round your lips and push them forward.
A horizontal line with a vertical stroke going Down -- like a root growing downward. "Ooh!" it goes underground!
- 우리 (uri) — we / our
- 우산 (usan) — umbrella
- 구름 (gureum) — cloud
ㅡ — 으 (eu), eu
No equivalent in English. Spread your lips wide (like smiling) and say "uh" from the back of your throat. Like the sound you make when punched in the stomach!
Just a single horizontal line -- flat and simple. Spread your lips flat like this line and say "euh". Think of a flat horizon.
- 어른 (eoreun) — adult
- 그림 (geurim) — picture / drawing
- 크다 (keuda) — to be big
ㅣ — 이 (i), i
Like "ee" in "see" or "tree". Spread your lips and smile.
Just a single vertical line -- like the letter "I" standing tall. "Ee!" is the simplest vowel.
- 이름 (ireum) — name
- 기분 (gibun) — mood / feeling
- 시작 (sijak) — start / beginning
How Korean Syllables Work
Every Korean character you see is actually a syllable block made up of 2-4 individual letters stacked together. The basic patterns are: • CV: Consonant + Vowel (가, 나, 다) • CVC: Consonant + Vowel + Consonant (간, 날, 달) Vertical vowels (ㅏ, ㅓ, ㅣ) go to the RIGHT of the consonant: 가, 너, 미 Horizontal vowels (ㅗ, ㅜ, ㅡ) go BELOW the consonant: 고, 누, 그 If there's a final consonant (called 받침/batchim), it goes at the bottom: 간, 물, 닫 This block system makes Korean text very compact and readable!
Korean Vowels
Korean has 10 basic vowels (and 11 compound vowels you'll learn later). In this lesson, you'll learn the 6 simplest vowels. Unlike English, each Korean vowel has one consistent sound -- no guessing! Remember: vowels can't be written alone. They always pair with a consonant. When a syllable starts with a vowel sound, we use the silent placeholder ㅇ.