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Lesson 9 of 9

Sounds that change

Spelling keeps each word’s letters; speech runs them together. Six small rules explain why 한국어 is said [한구거] and 합니다 [함니다] — and you will hear them from the first unit of Level 1.

1 A final consonant moves over

If the next syllable starts with the silent ㅇ, the final consonant slides into that empty place and is said there: 한국어 → [한구거]. The spelling stays the same; only the sound moves.

WrittenSaidMeaningListen
한국어 [한구거] Korean (language)Level 1 · Unit 4
있어요 [이써요] there is; I haveLevel 1 · Unit 2
먹어요 [머거요] I eatLevel 1 · Unit 4
음악 [으막] musicLevel 2 · Unit 4

2 Two final consonants

Some syllables carry two consonants underneath. At the end of a word or before a consonant, only one of them is said: ㅄ ㄵ ㄼ keep the first, ㄺ keeps the second. Before a vowel, the second one moves over and both are heard.

End of a word or before a consonant: say one

WrittenSaidMeaningListen
없다 [업따] to not have; to not be thereLevel 1 · Unit 2
앉다 [안따] to sitLevel 1 · Unit 4
읽다 [익따] to readLevel 1 · Unit 4
여덟 [여덜] eightLevel 1 · Unit 7

Before a vowel: say both

WrittenSaidMeaningListen
없어요 [업써요] there isn’t; I don’t haveLevel 1 · Unit 2
앉아요 [안자요] I sitLevel 1 · Unit 4
읽어요 [일거요] I readLevel 1 · Unit 4

3 ㅎ goes quiet — or adds air

A final ㅎ (also the one inside ㄶ) is silent before a vowel. Next to ㄱ ㄷ ㅂ ㅈ, it joins them and they become the air versions ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅊ.

Before a vowel: silent

WrittenSaidMeaningListen
좋아요 [조아요] it’s good; I like itLevel 1 · Unit 4
많아요 [마나요] there are a lotLevel 1 · Unit 10
괜찮아요 [괜차나요] it’s OKLevel 2 · Unit 2

Next to ㄱ ㄷ ㅂ ㅈ: a puff of air

WrittenSaidMeaningListen
좋다 [조타] to be goodLevel 1 · Unit 4
축하해요 [추카해요] congratulationsLevel 2 · Unit 10

4 ㄱ ㄷ ㅂ turn nasal before ㄴ ㅁ

Before ㄴ or ㅁ, a final ㄱ becomes ㅇ, ㄷ becomes ㄴ and ㅂ becomes ㅁ. That is why every 합니다 is said [함니다]. Finals that sound like ㄷ (ㅅ ㅈ ㅊ ㅌ) follow it too: 옛날 → [옌날].

WrittenSaidMeaningListen
합니다 [함니다] (I) do — formalLevel 1 · Unit 1
감사합니다 [감사함니다] thank youLevel 1 · Unit 1
십만 [심만] a hundred thousandLevel 1 · Unit 6
박물관 [방물관] museumLevel 1 · Unit 11
옛날 [옌날] the old days, long agoLevel 1 · Unit 9

5 After ㄱ ㄷ ㅂ, the next consonant gets tight

After a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ, a plain ㄱ ㄷ ㅂ ㅅ ㅈ is said tight, like ㄲ ㄸ ㅃ ㅆ ㅉ. You don’t have to aim for it: it happens when you stop the air and start again.

WrittenSaidMeaningListen
학교 [학꾜] schoolLevel 1 · Unit 2
식당 [식땅] restaurantLevel 1 · Unit 5
먹다 [먹따] to eatLevel 1 · Unit 4

6 ㄴ next to ㄹ becomes ㄹ

When ㄴ and ㄹ meet, both are said as ㄹ — a long l.

WrittenSaidMeaningListen
설날 [설랄] Lunar New Year’s Day
한라산 [할라산] Hallasan, the mountain on JejuLevel 2 · Unit 8
연락 [열락] getting in touchLevel 3 · Unit 2

Listen and choose

Sori says a word the way it sounds. Choose how it is written.

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Fix Hoya’s mistakes

Hoya wrote these. Each one has one mistake. Work out the right answer, then check.

  • Word for I read Hoya wrote 일거요
    Check

    읽어요 That is exactly how it sounds, but the word is 읽다 (to read), so the spelling keeps ㄺ: 읽어요. The ㄱ only moves over when you speak.

  • Word for thank you Hoya wrote 감사함니다
    Check

    감사합니다 You hear ㅁ, but it is written ㅂ: -합니다. ㅂ turns into ㅁ before ㄴ only in speech.

  • Word for it’s good; I like it Hoya wrote 조아요
    Check

    좋아요 The ㅎ is silent before a vowel, but it stays in the spelling, because the word is 좋다.

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