The 14 basic consonants

Every syllable block in Hangul begins with a consonant. In Korean, each consonant has a traditional name that begins and ends with its sound.

ㄱ

기역giyeok

Between the "g" in "go" and the "k" in "skin".

Example: ㄱ + ㅏ = 가(ga)

ㄴ

니은nieun

Like the "n" in "nose".

Example: ㄴ + ㅏ = 나(na)

ㄷ

디귿digeut

Between the "d" in "door" and the "t" in "star".

Example: ㄷ + ㅏ = 다(da)

ㄹ

리을rieul

A light tap like the "tt" in "butter", or "l" at the end of a syllable.

Example: ㄹ + ㅏ = 라(ra)

ㅁ

미음mieum

Like the "m" in "moon".

Example: ㅁ + ㅏ = 마(ma)

ㅂ

비읍bieup

Between the "b" in "bed" and the "p" in "spin".

Example: ㅂ + ㅏ = 바(ba)

ㅅ

시옷siot

Soft "s" as in "sea" or "sun".

Example: ㅅ + ㅏ = 사(sa)

ㅇ

이응ieung

Silent as the initial consonant; "ng" as in "song" as the final.

Example: ㅇ + ㅏ = 아(a)

ㅈ

지읒jieut

Between "j" in "jump" and "ch" in "chill".

Example: ㅈ + ㅏ = 자(ja)

ㅊ

치읓chieut

Strong "ch" as in "cheese" with a burst of air.

Example: ㅊ + ㅏ = 차(cha)

ㅋ

키읔kieuk

Aspirated "k" with a strong puff of air, as in "kite".

Example: ㅋ + ㅏ = 카(ka)

ㅌ

티읕tieut

Aspirated "t" with a strong puff of air, as in "top".

Example: ㅌ + ㅏ = 타(ta)

ㅍ

피읖pieup

Aspirated "p" with a puff of air, as in "park".

Example: ㅍ + ㅏ = 파(pa)

ㅎ

히읗hieut

Like the "h" in "hat".

Example: ㅎ + ㅏ = 하(ha)

Letter names vs. syllable sounds

In English, the letter B is named "bee", but sounds like /b/. Similarly in Korean, ㄱ is named giyeok (기역). The first syllable of its name shows the sound it makes at the start of a block (g), and the second syllable shows the sound it makes at the end of a block (k).

Hangulmate starts by focusing on the starting sounds so you can read syllables immediately.

Coming soon: Double consonants (쌍자음) ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ will be introduced in the next chapter.

Try them in the builder →