(Illustration by Hyemin Lee, Stripes Korea)
Hangul (한글) is the Korean alphabet created by King Sejong the Great with assistance from his scholars in 1443. It consists of 24 letters, including 14 consonants and 10 vowels. Mastering Hangul is very easy and takes a short time. Following the lesson on this page can help you open the door to reading and writing Korean words and phrases!
STEP 1. LET’S LEARN 24 BASIC LETTERS OF THE KOREAN ALPHABET
Most Korean letters can be pronounced in Romanization, making learning Hangul easy. However, a few English letters—F, R, V, and Z—have no direct equivalents in Korean pronunciation. These letters adopt similar Romanized sounds as follows: F=ㅍ(p) / R=ㄹ(l) / V=ㅂ(b) / Z=ㅈ(j).
(Image by Stripes Korea)
Let’s practice composing a Korean word
Each Korean syllable is formed by combining consonants and vowels. Consonants can come in both the initial and final positions. Particularly, the consonant “ㅇ” is silent when in the initial position, but when placed in the final position, it is pronounced as “ng.”
(Image by Stripes Korea)
STEP 2. MASTERING OF 40 LETTERS
(Image by Stripes Korea)
LET’S PRACTICE READING HANGUL!
예뻐요: Yeppeoyo (It’s pretty)
괜찮아요: Gwaen-chanayo (It’s fine)
깜깜해요: Kkamkkam-haeyo (It’s dark)
왜 그랬어?: Wae geuraesseo? (Why did you do that?)
BASIC KOREAN VOCABULARY
PLACE (장소)
House/Home Jip (집)
Hospital Byeongwon (병원)
Restaurant Sikdang (식당)
School Hakgyo (학교)
Mart Ma-teu (마트)
Convenience store Pyeon-ui-jeom (편의점)
Airport Gonghang (공항)
Workplace Jikjang (직장)
RELATIONSHIP (관계)
Family Gajok (가족)
Friend Chingu (친구)
Lover/Partner Yeonin (연인)
Colleague Jikjang-dongryo (직장 동료)
Boss Sangsa (상사)
OCCUPATION (직업)
Teacher Seon-saeng-nim (선생님)
Student Hak-saeng (학생)
Guide Ga-ee-deu (가이드)
Military troop Gun-in (군인)
KOREA-RELATED
Korea Han-guk (한국)
Republic of Korea Daehanminguk (대한민국)
Korean Hanguk saram (한국사람) / Hanguk-in (한국인)
Korean language Hanguk-eo (한국어)
U.S.A.-RELATED
U.S.A. Mi-guk (미국)
American Miguk saram (미국사람) / Miguk-in (미국인)
English Yeong-eo (영어)
U.S. military Migun (미군)
U.S. military base Migun budae (미군 부대)
DATE RELATED
Day Yoil (요일) / Nal (날)
Date Il (일)
Week Ju (주)
Month Dal (달)
Today Oneul (오늘)
Yesterday Eoje (어제)
Tomorrow Naeil (내일)
This month Ibeon dal (이번 달)
Last month Jinan dal (지난 달)
Next month Daeum dal (다음 달)
NUMBERS (숫자)
One Hana (하나)
Two Dul (둘)
Three Set (셋)
Four Net (넷)
Five Da-seot (다섯)
Six Yeo-seot (여섯)
Seven Ilgop (일곱)
Eight Yeodeol (여덟)
Nine Ahop (아홉)
Ten Yul (열)
PRONOUNS
I Na-neun (나는) / Jeo-neun (저는) (formal)
My Na-eui (나의) Jeo-ui (저의) (formal)
Me Na-reul (나를) / Jeo-reul (저를) (formal)
He Geu-neun (그는)
She Geu-nyeo-neun (그녀는)
We Oori-neun (우리는)
They Geu-deul-en (그들은)
This I-geo (이거)
That Jeo-geo (저거)
INTERROGATIVE
What Mu-eot (무엇) / Mwo (뭐) (informal)
Who Nuga (누가)
When Eonje (언제)
Where Eodi-seo (어디서)
Why Wae (왜)
How Eotteo-ke (어떻게)
VERBS
Go Ga-da (가다)
Do Hada (하다)
Work Il-hada (일하다)
Drive Unjeon-hada (운전하다)
Meet Manna-da (만나다)
Love Sarang-hada (사랑하다)
Like Joa-hada (좋아하다)
Hate Shireo-hada (싫어하다)
Eat Meok-da (먹다)
Drink Mashi-da (마시다)
Sleep Ja-da (자다)
Buy Sa-da (사다)
Sell Pal-da (팔다)
