Hangul basics: how the Korean alphabet works

Hangul (한글) is the Korean alphabet. It was created in the 15th century under King Sejong and is designed to be learned quickly. Modern Hangul has 14 basic consonants and 10 basic vowels, plus a few combined letters.

Letters become syllable blocks

Korean letters are not written in a line like English. They are stacked into square syllable blocks:

• A consonant + a vowel: 가 (ㄱ + ㅏ = "ga"), 나 (ㄴ + ㅏ = "na")
• A consonant + a vowel + a final consonant (받침): 한 (ㅎ + ㅏ + ㄴ = "han"), 글 (ㄱ + ㅡ + ㄹ = "geul")
• A silent ㅇ is placed first when a syllable starts with a vowel: 아 ("a"), 이 ("i")

Put two blocks together and you can already read a word: 한글 = "Hangul".

A few vowels to start with

• ㅏ "a" (as in "father")
• ㅓ "eo" (a sound like "uh")
• ㅗ "o"
• ㅜ "u" (as in "moon")
• ㅡ "eu" (lips spread, no rounding)
• ㅣ "i" (as in "see")

How to practise

1. Read the consonants and vowels aloud and write each one by hand.
2. Combine them: 가 나 다 라 마 바 사.
3. Read signs, menus and song titles you already know.
4. Say it in our Voice Lounge and ask for feedback from other learners.

Tip: do not rely on romanisation for long. Reading Hangul directly is faster and gives you the real sounds.