Lesson 2 · 발음 규칙
Korean Pronunciation Rules: Linking, Nasalization, Tensification & More (with Audio)
Many Korean words are not read the way they are written: 학교 is read [학꾜] and 감사합니다 is read [감사함니다], because neighbouring sounds affect each other. Learn these 10 rules to read naturally and understand spoken Korean more easily.
Tap any letter to hear it. Use the 가ga button at the top to hide or show romanization and test yourself.
Study Lesson 1 first: the alphabet and the 7 batchim sounds. Lesson 1: The alphabet
The 10 rules at a glance
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| 1. Linking (liaison)연음 | 음악→[으막] |
| 2. Silent ㅎㅎ 탈락 | 좋아요→[조아요] |
| 3. Aspiration격음화 | 좋다→[조타] |
| 4. Nasalization비음화 | 학년→[항년] |
| 5. ㄴ becomes ㄹ유음화 | 연락→[열락] |
| 6. ㄹ becomes ㄴㄹ의 비음화 | 정류장→[정뉴장] |
| 7. Tensification경음화 | 학교→[학꾜] |
| 8. Palatalization구개음화 | 같이→[가치] |
| 9. ㄴ insertionㄴ 첨가 | 무슨 일→[무슨닐] |
| 10. How to read 의 | 의사→[의사] |
1. Linking (liaison) (연음)
When a batchim is followed by a syllable starting with a silent ㅇ, the batchim is pronounced at the start of the next syllable. With a double batchim, the second consonant moves over. A ㅇ batchim never moves.
2. Silent ㅎ (ㅎ 탈락)
A ㅎ batchim (also in ㄶ and ㅀ) is silent before a vowel. In ㄶ and ㅀ the remaining consonant links to the next syllable.
3. Aspiration (격음화)
When ㅎ meets ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ or ㅈ (in either order), the two merge into the aspirated ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ or ㅊ.
4. Nasalization (비음화)
A batchim pronounced [k], [t] or [p] becomes a nasal before ㄴ or ㅁ: [k] → ㅇ, [t] → ㄴ, [p] → ㅁ.
5. ㄴ becomes ㄹ (유음화)
ㄴ next to ㄹ (before or after it) is read as ㄹ: both ㄴ + ㄹ and ㄹ + ㄴ sound like [ㄹㄹ].
6. ㄹ becomes ㄴ (ㄹ의 비음화)
After a ㅁ or ㅇ batchim, ㄹ is read as ㄴ. After [k] or [p], ㄹ also becomes ㄴ, and then [k] → ㅇ, [p] → ㅁ by nasalization.
7. Tensification (경음화)
After a batchim pronounced [k], [t] or [p], the next ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ, ㅈ are read tense: ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ.
8. Palatalization (구개음화)
A ㄷ or ㅌ batchim followed by 이 is read [지] or [치].
9. ㄴ insertion (ㄴ 첨가)
In compounds or two words said together, if the first ends in a batchim and the second starts with 이, 야, 여, 요 or 유, an extra ㄴ is added: [니, 냐, 녀, 뇨, 뉴].
10. How to read 의
At the start of a word it is [의]. After a consonant or in a later syllable it is read [이]. As the possessive particle ("of") it is usually read [에].
Self-test: how is it read?
Guess how each word is read, then tap to see the answer and the rule.
국민Show answer
앞니Show answer
졸업Show answer
놓고Show answer
난로Show answer
굳이Show answer
먹다Show answer
넣어요Show answer
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