Complex Vowels Part 2 (복합 모음 2)
Learn the 7 compound vowels: ㅘ, ㅙ, ㅚ, ㅝ, ㅞ, ㅟ, ㅢ. Master the art of vowel gliding!
Gliding Vowels
These compound vowels are made by smoothly gliding from one vowel to another. Think of them as two vowels pronounced so quickly they become one sound. The good news: you already know all the individual vowels that make them up! And here's a secret -- three of them (ㅙ, ㅚ, ㅞ) all sound the same in modern Korean, so that's three for the price of one.
Complex Vowels Part 2
Learn the 7 compound vowels: ㅘ, ㅙ, ㅚ, ㅝ, ㅞ, ㅟ, ㅢ. These are formed by combining two vowels into a smooth glide.
ㅘ — 와 (wa), wa
Like "wa" in "waffle". Glide from ㅗ (o) to ㅏ (a) quickly.
ㅗ + ㅏ combined -- say "o" then slide into "a" quickly and you get "wa"! Like saying "Wow!" with your mouth rounding first.
- 사과 (sagwa) — apple
- 과일 (gwail) — fruit
- 화요일 (hwayoil) — Tuesday
ㅙ — 왜 (wae), wae
Like "we" in "wet". ㅗ + ㅐ combined. In modern Korean, sounds the same as ㅚ and ㅞ.
ㅗ + ㅐ combined -- the "w" glide plus "ae". Think of the word 왜 (wae) which means "why?" -- "WAE would you do that?!"
- 왜 (wae) — why
- 돼지 (dwaeji) — pig
ㅚ — 외 (oe), oe
Historically like German "ö", but in modern Korean pronounced the same as ㅙ (like "we" in "wet").
ㅗ + ㅣ combined -- historically a rounded front vowel, now just "we". Think of 외국 (oeguk, foreign country) -- the "Outside" world!
- 외국 (oeguk) — foreign country
- 회사 (hoesa) — company
- 최고 (choego) — the best
ㅝ — 워 (wo), wo
Like "wo" in "wonder". Glide from ㅜ (u) to ㅓ (eo) quickly.
ㅜ + ㅓ combined -- round your lips for "u" then open to "eo". Like saying "Whoa!" with surprise!
- 원 (won) — Korean currency (won)
- 월요일 (woryoil) — Monday
- 뭐 (mwo) — what
ㅞ — 웨 (we), we
Like "we" in "wet". ㅜ + ㅔ combined. Sounds the same as ㅙ and ㅚ in modern Korean.
ㅜ + ㅔ combined -- another "we" sound. Think of 웨딩 (weding) -- "WEdding"!
- 웨딩 (weding) — wedding
- 스웨터 (seuweteo) — sweater
ㅟ — 위 (wi), wi
Like "wee" in "week". Glide from ㅜ (u) to ㅣ (i) quickly.
ㅜ + ㅣ combined -- start with rounded lips "u" and slide to "ee". Like saying "Wee!" on a rollercoaster!
- 위 (wi) — above / top
- 위험 (wiheom) — danger
- 귀 (gwi) — ear
ㅢ — 의 (ui), ui
Start with ㅡ (eu) and glide to ㅣ (i). But this vowel has 3 different pronunciations depending on position!
ㅡ + ㅣ combined -- the trickiest vowel! It changes sound based on where it appears. Think of it as a vowel chameleon.
- 의사 (uisa) — doctor
- 의자 (uija) — chair
- 회의 (hoeui) — meeting
The Chameleon Vowel: ㅢ
The vowel ㅢ deserves special attention because it's the only Korean vowel that changes its pronunciation based on position: 1. At the start of a word: Pronounced "ui" (like saying "eu-ee" fast) 의사 (doctor) → [의사] 의자 (chair) → [의자] 2. After a consonant: Pronounced just as "i" 희망 (hope) → [히망] 무늬 (pattern) → [무니] 3. As the possessive particle 의: Pronounced "e" 나의 (my) → [나에] 한국의 (Korea's) → [한구게] Don't try to memorize these rules right now -- they'll become natural with practice. Just be aware that ㅢ is special!
Gliding Vowels
These compound vowels are made by smoothly gliding from one vowel to another. Think of them as two vowels pronounced so quickly they become one sound. The good news: you already know all the individual vowels that make them up! And here's a secret -- three of them (ㅙ, ㅚ, ㅞ) all sound the same in modern Korean, so that's three for the price of one.