In the Korean language, there are 21 vowels: 10 simple vowels and 11 diphthongs.
Simple Vowels
|
Vowels |
Pronunciation |
Example |
|
ㅏ |
Like the "a" in "after" |
차 [jha] "tea" |
|
ㅑ |
Like the "ya" in "yard" |
양 [yang] "goat" |
|
ㅓ |
Like the "o" in "only" |
것 [kot] "thing" |
|
ㅕ |
Like the "yo" in "your" |
영웅 [yongeung] "hero" |
|
ㅗ |
Like the "o" in "no" |
돈 [ton] "money" |
|
ㅛ |
Like the "yo" in "yolk" |
용 [yong] "dragon" |
|
ㅜ |
Like the "oo" in "moon" |
문 [mun] "door" |
|
ㅠ |
Like "you" |
규모 [kyumo] "scale" |
|
ㅡ |
Like the "u" in "put" |
크다 [kheuda] "big" |
|
ㅣ |
Like the "ee" in "seed" |
십 [sip] "ten" |
Diphthongs
|
Vowel Sound |
Pronunciation |
Example |
|
ㅐ |
Like the "a" in "mat" |
배 [pae] "stomach" |
|
ㅒ |
Like the "ya" in "yank" |
얘들 [yaedeul] "children" |
|
ㅔ |
Like the "e" in "pen" |
게 [ke] "crab" |
|
ㅖ |
Like the "ye" in "yellow" |
예 [ye] "yes" |
|
ㅘ |
Like the "wo" in "wonder" |
왕 [wang] "king" |
|
ㅙ |
Like the "wea" in "wear" |
왜 [wae] "why" |
|
ㅚ |
Like the "we" in "went" |
외국 [weguk] "foreign country" |
|
ㅝ |
Like the "wa" in "want" |
권 [kwon] "volume" |
|
ㅞ |
Like the "we" in "wet" |
웬만하다 [wenmanhada] "usual" |
|
ㅟ |
Like the "wi" in "willing" |
귀 [kwi] "ear" |
|
ㅢ |
[ui] - this sound has no analogue in English. It is a mixture of [u] and [I]. |
의사 [uisa] "doctor" |
Note: After consonants, the letter ㅢ is pronounced like [I]. For example, 희다 [hida] "white". At the beginning of a syllable, it is pronounced like [ui]. For example, 의자 [ui-ja] "chair".
See Also: