How can we naturally read Korean? In this lesson, I'll show you very important and basic pronunciation tips. So please read this post carefully.
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1. Before You Begin...
One or more than two syllables become words. When you read Korean, you don't just read each syllable as they are because some letters can affect each other and create new sounds.
Since how the words look and how they are supposed to be pronounced are different, it can be challenging for Korean students. I will show you one by one with examples, so no worries!
Try to speak the words out aloud, not just read them with eyes. Reading aloud will help you to understand them better!
2. Linking Sound
What is a linking sound? A linking sound is a sound of a letter that is changed by the other letter that is located closely.
In Korean, when a syllable with the final consonant is followed by ㅇ (이응), this final consonant moves over and takes the spot of ㅇ. You may remember this circle-looking letter ㅇ.
It doesn't have a sound when it comes to the first consonant position. So, when there is the final consonant in front of this ㅇ, the final consonant can move on to this empty sound place! Take a look at the examples to help you understand!
example 1
먹어요 means to eat. Spot the middle syllable, 어. In front of "어," you can see "먹". 먹 has the final consonant ㄱ [g]. So, this ㄱ moves on to 어 and becomes 머거요 [meo-geo-yo]. So, even though you write the word "먹어요" you should read it [머거요] not 먹-어-요 one by one as it looks.
Does it make sense? Like this, how you write and how you read can be different in Korean. I will show you some more examples!
example 2
Try to read this, 갑을. In front of the "ㅇ," you can see the final consonant "ㅂ [b]". So, this ㅂ moves on to the no-sound spot. 갑을 will sound [가블] not [갑을] one by one. You will need to pay attention to the whole chunk of syllables until you get used to reading with this linking sound.
example 3
Here is one more interesting fact you should know. Remember how the final consonants only have 7 sounds? When there are two letters in the final consonant spot, only one of them can be pronounced.
For example, 값 itself would sound 갑 with ㅂ [b]. The second letter ㅅ [s] will be not pronounced. However, even though we don't pronounce the other one, the letter still exists.
So, when 을 comes after 값, the poor ㅅ, which was ignored before, can go to its new home. ㅅ takes ㅇ's spot now, so you will read 값을 as [갑슬].
More to Read...
This phenomenon is called 연음화 in Korean. Can you find the circle-looking letter here too? The second syllable 음 starts with the letter "ㅇ". In front of this syllable, we can also see the final consonant ㄴ [n] from 연! Then what will happen? Yes, the linking sound! So even though it is written in 연음화 you should read this as [여늠화].
This "final consonant takes over ㅇ" happens almost every time. There are not many exemptions and the exemptions happen with reasons. So, it will be good to practice applying this rule all the time as you read. And when you see the exemptions, memorize those separately. Here is one example for you.
깻잎 is a sesame leaf (or perilla leaf). With the linking sound rule, you may think it will become [깨십]. The final consonant ㅅ will go over to the no-sound spot.
However, it is actually pronounced as 깬닙. Interesting, right? There are many rules behind this incident, but it is too big to cover in this beginning lesson. So, for now, you can memorize about it with caution.
깻잎
(O) [깬닙]
(X) [깨십]
3. Fortis
This is a similar rule to the linking sound. This time when you have the final consonant and "ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ, or ㅈ" the change of a sound will happen.
ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ, ㅈ are the letters that can be turned into the double consonants "ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ." When there is the final consonant in front of these "ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ, ㅈ", they become the strong double consonant letters.
example 1
국밥 is a type of food in Korea that is rice mixed in soup. Even though we write the word 국밥, we should not read it as 국-밥 separately. The final consonant of the first syllable 국 affects the letter ㅂ that comes after it. So, ㄱ[g] make ㅂ[b] into ㅃ[bb]. So you should read it as [국빱].
example 2
엽서 is a postcard. When you read it, you shouldn't say 엽 and 서 separately. The final consonant ㅂ[b] affects ㅅ[s] and makes it into ㅆ[ss]. So you read it as [엽써].
example 3
The final consonant ㄴ[n] of the first syllable 안[an] turns 고 [go] into 꼬 [ggo].
More to read...
This phenomenon is called 경음화 in Korean. The name is not something you have to memorize or worry about in these beginner-level lessons.
Just try to remember the final consonant can make the "ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ, and ㅈ" to double consonants! There are quite many detailed rules behind it but you will have a chance to go deeper about these rules in the future.
4. Practice
Let's practice reading with these rules! Try to read aloud and then check what you read is right!
1. 한국어
2. 먹어요
3. 그것이
4. 국밥
5. 독도
6. 등불
Answers
1. 한국어 → /한구거/ [han-gu-geo]
The ㄱ of the second syllable moves on because it is in front of ㅇ.
2. 먹어요 → /머거요/ [meo-geo-yo]
The ㄱ of the first syllable moves on to the next.
3. 그것이 → /그거시/ [geu-geo-si]
The ㅅ of the second syllable will take the spot of ㅇ.
4. 국밥 → /국빱/ [guk-bbab]
The final consonant ㄱ makes the ㅂ that comes next into ㅃ.
5. 독도 → /독또/ [dok-ddo]
The final consonant ㄱ makes ㄷ into the double consonant, angrier sound ㄸ.
6. 등불 → /등뿔/ [deung-bbul]
The final consonant ㅇ turns ㅂ into ㅃ.
5. Wrap-up: Linking Sound and Fortis in Korean
Linking Sound: When the final consonant is followed by ㅇ, the final consonant moves on to ㅇ spot.
Fortis: When ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ, ㅈ have the final consonant in front of them, they become the double consonants (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ).
You've learned about the linking sound and fortis in Korean! There are actually more pronunciation rules in Korean. However, for now, you learned the most commonly used two things!
While progressing through the lessons, you will have the opportunity to delve deeper into other pronunciation rules, and I will offer explanations to assist you! In the upcoming lesson, you will learn how to greet and bid farewell in Korean.
To access additional free Korean pronunciation lessons, be sure to visit my pronunciation section!