Alphabet - lesson 4
Learn to read Korean within minutes


  Finals

 

The pronunciation of consonants change when they are in the final

Usage of

The jamo is unique in that it has two uses:

1 - As an initial, in which case it has no phonetic value.
Examples : (a), (o), (u), (i)

2 - As a final, in which case it has the value of a nasal ending.
Examples : (nang), (nong), (ang)

 

Usage of (also ㅋ, ㄲ)

Beware! A final is not always pronounced [k].

When a hangeul having as the final is followed by another syllable, such as in 역사 (history), it is pronounced [k].

However, in monosyllables such as (medication, drug) or (jade), we will not hear [k] but a glottal stop, just as if the speaker stopped short of pronouncing that sound.

Other consonants in the final position will also follow the same rule as . For example 부엌, 밖, 갂다.

 

Usage of

The pronunciation of the final is not really different from the initial. For example is pronounced a lot like the given name "Ann".

 

Usage of (also ㅅ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅌ, ㅎ, ㅆ)

The consonant and these other consonants in the final position will all be pronounced [t]. For example 낫, 낮, 낯, 낱, 낳, 났 (= 낟). Why so many different spellings for the same pronunciation? Simply because Korean phonetics has evolved. Let's not complain about this one. ;-)

 

Usage of

To make things easier, we can say that in final position is pronounced like a final [l].

 

Usage of

As in the above case, this is pronounced as a final [m].

 

Usage of (and )

These two letters are pronounced as a final [b].

 

 

To conclude...

There are 51 jamo (자모) of which 24 are original signs to transcribe phonemes, and 27 which are formed through combining the 24 initial jamo.

There are 19 consonants, including 14 singles and 5 doubles

There are 21 vowels in Korean (including diphthongs)

You should now be able to read the word below :-)


han geul