안녕하세요? Hello! 😊 Have you studied the Korean final consonant? You will learn an upgraded version here with me! You will read the pronunciation tips about the final consonant, especially when there are two letters in the final consonant spot!
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1. Double Final Consonants?
Let's start with what is the final consonant because it is a very important concept in the Korean language. A Korean syllable can consist of mainly two. One is a consonant and a vowel. The other is the first consonant, vowel, and the final consonant. Here are some examples.
1. Consonant - Vowel: 가, 나, 다, ...
2. First consonant - Vowel - Final consonant: 각, 낟, 상, ...
However, some syllables can have two letters in the final consonant position like these words. Take a look at the example below.
여덟 / 핥다 / 닭 / 붉다
The red ones have the final consonant that is consist of two letters. These final consonants can be called two-letter final consonants or double consonants.
Technically, double consonants in the final consonants will be ㄲ, ㅆ, as doubled the same consonant. But as I look up the dictionary and the internet, these two-letter final consonants are called "double consonants." So, I will use this term as well.
By the way, it is called 겹받침 in Korean. 겹 means 'layer' and 받침 is a 'final consonant'. So, it is layered final consonants!
Remember the pronunciation rule of the final consonants? Even though you can write various letters in the final consonant positions, only seven sounds can be made! They were ㄱ[g], ㄴ[n], ㄷ[d], ㄹ[l], ㅁ[m], ㅂ[b], and ㅇ[ng].
This rule is also the same when you read the double final consonants. Take a look at the examples below.
삵 [삭] - The final consonant is ㄺ. You read ㄹ in this syllable.
덟 [덜] - The final consonant is ㄼ. You read ㅂ in this syllable.
As you see above, sometimes you read the first one, sometimes you need to read the second one! Then how can we read other syllables? Will there be a rule to this? The answer is "yes"!
Korea has the "Korean Standard Pronunciation Rules." It is a part of the "Korean Language Norms and Regulations" that is established and revised by the National Institute of the Korean Language. In this rule, you can find out how to pronounce the two-letter final consonants.
2. Pronunciation of the Double Consonants
Reading the first letter
You will read the first letter from the double consonants, ㄳ, ㄵ, ㄼ, ㄽ, ㄾ, ㅄ. I'll show each one with an example. The syllable in the brackets [] is the pronunciation. Try to read aloud the sounds in the brackets!
① ㄳ → ㄱ
The first ㄱ will be pronounced. ㅅ is silent.
넋 [넉]
삯 [삭]
몫 [목]
② ㄵ → ㄴ
Read the first letter ㄴ. The second one, "ㅈ" is silent.
앉 [안]
③ ㄼ → ㄹ
ㅂ is silent here. But there are exceptions. When you read 밟 and 넓, you will read the second letter ㅂ! I recommend you memorize these exceptions with more attention!
여덟 [여덜]
넓 [널]
-Exceptions:
밟 [밥]
넓 [넙]
④ ㄽ→ㄹ
ㅅ is silent.
외곬 [외골]
⑤ ㄾ → ㄹ
ㅌ is silent.
핥 [할]
⑥ ㅄ → ㅂ
ㅅ is silent.
값 [갑]
However, even if you don't pronounce the second letter, they'll still affect the next syllable. For example, 앉 came from the word 앉다. You will read this word [안따] not [안다]. 다 becomes 따 with the double consonant ㄸ.
It is because the silent ㅈ in front of ㄷ affected it. It is another important pronunciation rule of the Korean language. If you want to check it out, please read the post, "Korean Linking Sound and Fortis".
Read the second letter
In the case of the double consonants ㄺ, ㄻ, ㄿ, you will pronounce the back letters.
① ㄺ → ㄱ
The first ㄹ is silent.
닭 [닥]
흙 [흑]
맑 [막]
We have a bit complicated exception here. When this "ㄺ" is the end of a verb or adjective stem and if it is followed by "ㄱ," then ㄹ will be pronounced! Compare the two words below.
맑다 [막따]
맑고 [말꼬]
Originally, you were supposed to read 맑다 as [막따]. The ㄱ was the survivor. But if the syllable with ㄱ comes next(in this case 고), now ㄹ is the winner.
Yes, I know. This can be quite confusing. Try to memorize these exceptions with extra attention! Here are more examples of exceptions.
묽다 [묵따]
묽고 [물꼬]
긁다 [극따]
긁고 [글꼬]
밝다 [박따]
밟고 [발꼬]
② ㄻ → ㅁ
ㄹ is silent.
삶 [삼]
젊 [점]
③ ㄿ → ㅍ
ㄹ is silent again. ㅍ survives.
읊 [읖]
3. Summary: Double final consonants in Korean
Some Korean syllables have two letters in the final consonant spot. Even if there are two letters, you will only read one letter.
Depending on the letters, sometimes you read the first one, sometimes you pronounce the second one. It is the rule that happens regardless of any variables such as region, class, or word!
The ones always pronounced the first letter: ㄳ [ㄱ], ㄵ[ㄴ], ㄼ/ㄽ/ㄾ [ㄹ], ㅄ [ㅂ]
The ones always pronounced the second letter: ㄻ[ㅁ], ㄿ[ㅍ]
There are a total of 27 possible ways in the Korean final consonant spot.
Single letters: ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, ㄹ, ㅁ, ㅂ, ㅅ, ㅇ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, ㅎ (14) - All basic consonants
Double consonants: ㄲ, ㅆ (2)
Two-letter final consonants: ㄳ, ㄵ, ㄶ, ㄺ, ㄻ, ㄼ, ㄽ, ㄾ, ㄿ, ㅀ, ㅄ (11)
By the way, the two-letter consonants can only show up at the final consonant spot. That means you won't see them in the first consonant position! At least a bit of good news, right?
How was my lesson about the Double final consonants in Korean? If you have any questions, let me know! I'll see you at the next lesson! 😄