Hanguel and the Korean Alphabet
The Korean writing system is called Hanguel. Sounds are represented by symbols (jamo) and the jamo are combined into syllables. 2 or 3 characters are combined to form a single syllable. On rare occasions, 4 jamo will be combined in 1 syllable.
Alphabet Pronunciation
Consonants
There are 19 consonants in the Korean alphabet. The consonants are:
- (1)ㄱ (g) (giyeok)
- (2)ㄲ (gg) (ssanggiyeok)
- (3)ㄴ (n) (nieun)
- (4)ㄷ (d) (digeut)
- (5)ㄸ (dd) (ssangdigeut)
- (6)ㄹ (r/l) (rieul)
- (7)ㅁ (m) (mieum)
- (8)ㅂ (b) (bieup)
- (9)ㅃ (bb) (ssangbieup)
- (10)ㅅ (s) (siot)
- (11)ㅆ (ss) (ssangsiot)
- (12)ㅇ (b4 vowel/-ng as final jamo) (ieung)
- (13)ㅈ (j) (jieut)
- (14)ㅉ (jj) (ssangjieut)
- (15)ㅊ (ch) (chieut)
- (16)ㅋ (k) (kieuk)
- (17)ㅌ (t) (tieut)
- (18)ㅍ (p) (pieup)
- (19)ㅎ (h) (hieut)
Vowels
There are 21 vowels in the Korean alphabet. The vowels are:
- (1)ㅏ (a)
- (2)ㅐ (ae)
- (3)ㅑ (ya)
- (4)ㅒ (yae)
- (5)ㅓ (eo)
- (6)ㅔ (e)
- (7)ㅕ (yeo)
- (8)ㅖ (ye)
- (9) ㅗ (o)
- (10) ㅘ (wa)
- (11) ㅙ (wae)
- (12) ㅚ (oe)
- (13) ㅛ (yo)
- (14) ㅜ (u/oo)
- (15) ㅝ (wo)
- (16) ㅞ (we)
- (17) ㅟ (wi)
- (18) ㅠ (yu)
- (19) ㅡ (eu)
- (20) ㅢ (ui)
- (21) ㅣ (i)