Pronunciation rules
Linking, nasalisation, tensing, ㅎ
Koreans do not say each block separately. These rules help you recognise words you know in fast speech.
Recognising them is enough for now; you will meet them in every lesson.
Pronunciation rules
Linking (연음)
Final consonant + vowel: the consonant moves to the next syllable.
Nasalisation (비음화)
[ㄱ ㄷ ㅂ] before ㄴ ㅁ become [ㅇ ㄴ ㅁ].
Tensing (경음화)
After a final [ㄱ ㄷ ㅂ], ㄱ ㄷ ㅂ ㅅ ㅈ become tense.
The ㅎ sound
ㅎ between vowels almost disappears; ㅎ next to ㄱ ㄷ ㅈ makes them aspirated.
Palatalisation (구개음화)
ㄷ ㅌ before 이 become [ㅈ ㅊ].
ㄹ assimilation (유음화)
ㄴ next to ㄹ becomes [ㄹ].
Words
- 한국어[한구거]Korean language
- 감사합니다[감사함니다]thank you
- 학교[학꾜]school
- 좋아요[조아요]good; I like it
- 같이[가치]together
- 음악[으막]music
- 식당[식땅]restaurant
- 많이[마니]a lot
- 연락[열락]contact
- 학년[항년]school year
Exercises
Question 1 of 8
How is this word pronounced?
식당