Double Consonants

Some consonants double up and make stronger sounds. Those are called the double consonants. Only certain consonants "ㄱg, ㄷd, ㅂb, ㅅs, ㅈj" can become double consonants. How they will be different? Try to compare the sounds!

Contents of the Page

Quick Chart

Walk Through

Double Consonant Video

Quiz

Free Worksheets

Quick Chart

Take a quick look at the comparison of basic consonants and the double consonants that they came from! By clicking each letter you will be able to listen to their sounds.

Double Consonant ㄲ

1. Sound

ㄱ g

가 ga

ㄲ gg

까 gga

ㄲ(gg) is a tensed sound of ㄱ(g) and sounds stronger. Some people even say ㄲ almost angrier than ㄱ.

Try to say 가(ga) and find where your tongue is located. You may notice the back of your tongue slightly touching the roof of your mouth. 까 touches the same spot of the palate but it touches stronger than 가 and makes a harder sound.

We don't write "gg" as the tense sound in English, but the sound is actually existing. For example, when you say "sky," the "k" in the middle is not quite the same as "k" as "king" or "key". The "k" in the "sky" can be considered this tense "ggㄲ" sound.

2. Writing

Just like writing ㄱ, you can write ㄱ twice close to each other. Each ㄱ described as two steps, however, they are actually one stroke. So you can write ㄲ, with only two strokes. Two ㄱ can touch each other or you can leave a small gap.

3. Syllables

Try to see if you can combine the double consonant ㄲ with 10 basic vowels! When you write, try to fill one syllable in one invisible square!

Double Consonant ㄸ

1. Sound

ㄷ d

다 da

ㄸ dd

따 dda

ㄸ(dd) is a tensed sound of ㄷ(d). It is stronger and has a higher pitch than ㄷ.
When you say 다(da), you can feel your front tongue will slightly touch the roof of your mouth. When you say 따(dda), the tongue will strongly touch the same spot.

2. Writing

Write step 1 from left to right and write steps 2 and 3 in one stroke. Repeat that one more time. Two ㄷ can touch each other or you can leave a small gap.

3. Syllables

Try to read ㄸ with the basic vowels. Also, take a look at how the look of ㄸ slightly changed depending on a vowel it combined.

Double Consonant ㅃ

1. Sound

ㅂ b

바 ba

ㅃ bb

빠 bba

ㅃ(bb) is a tense sound of ㅂ(b). When you say 바(ba), you will softly and briefly close your lips and open them and will make a low tone. When you say 빠(bba), you will close your lips stronger than 바 and pronounce it with a slightly higher tone.
When you say 바, a little bit of air will come out. When you say 빠, almost no air will come out. To experiment with this, place a tissue or palm close to your mouth and say two syllables 바 and 빠. When you say 바, the tissue will move slightly (or you can feel the air on your palm). When you say 빠, the tissue won't move (or you won't feel much air.)
For comparison, you can try the same experiment 바(ba), 파(pa), and 빠(bba). ㅍ is a plosive consonant, so you will feel the most air out among them.

2. Writing

Just like writing ㅂ, you can write two top-down lines and two left-right lines and repeat that again. The left-right lines are shorter compared to a regular ㅂ because we have to squeeze two ㅃ in the same size invisible square.

3. Syllables

Here are the syllables ㅃ with basic vowels. Try to listen and repeat them. Remember! You are supposed to say the consonant ㅃ stronger than ㅂ!

Double Consonant ㅆ

1. Sound

ㅅ s

사 sa

ㅆ ss

싸 ssa

ㅆ(ss) is a tensed sound of ㅅ(s). ㅆ is stronger, angrier, and has a higher pitch than ㅅ. As you say 사, try to feel inside of your mouth. Say 싸 this time. Your tongue location should be the same, but you can add more tense to it.

2. Writing

Just like writing ㅅ, write top-down diagonal lines. Left one first and then right one, and repeat. Make sure each ㅅ for ㅆ is narrower than just one ㅅ to make the right proportion to fill in an invisible square box.

3. Syllables

Try to compare how ㅆ looks taller with vowels ㅏ, ㅑ, ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅣ and wider with vowels ㅗ, ㅛ, ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ. When it is used with top-down long vowels, ㅆ gets taller as well. When it is used with left-right long vowels, ㅆ gets wider. Like this, you are supposed to adjust the look of a consonant depending on a vowel.

Double Consonant ㅉ

1. Sound

ㅈ j

자 ja

ㅉ jj

짜 jja

ㅉ(jj) is a tensed sound of ㅈ(j). When you say 자, the front of your tongue slightly touches the back of your top teeth. Add more strength, with a higher pitch tone, say 짜.

2. Writing

Here is how to write the double consonant ㅈ. Make sure each ㅈ for ㅉ is narrower than just one ㅈ. It makes the right proportion to fill in an invisible square box.

3. Syllables

Try to listen and repeat the 10 syllables with ㅉ and basic vowels! Also, take a look at how ㅉ gets taller and wider depending on a vowel it meets. Can you tell the difference?