How To Learn The Korean Alphabet: 5+ Amazing Ways

A lot of people are learning Korean these days. Perhaps you, who are reading this right now, are one of them? You might want to learn the Korean alphabet because you watch K-dramas and want to read the subtitles, or maybe Korean is a college subject that you can’t skip. In any case, you came to the right place.

Think it’s too difficult? Don’t worry. Since this article was written jointly with a native Korean speaker, you’ll be able to learn more clearly. So, let’s get to know the Korean alphabet.

What Is The Hangeul Writing System?

Korean Hangeul characters include 24 basic letters:

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• 14 letters are consonants
• 10 letters are vowels
  
  

Other than that, there are 27 complex letters formed by different combinations of the basic letters, which include:

• 5 tense consonant letters
• 11 complex consonant letters
• 11 complex vowel letters

Initially, Chinese characters called “Hanja” were used as the official writing system in Korea. They were adopted from the Chinese language as a means to write Korean. This changed in 1443 when King Sejong, the greatest king of the Joseon Dynasty, invented Hangeul.

Hangeul was generally known until the 20th century by the name Sejong gave it, Hunminjŏngŭm, which loosely translated means “Proper Sounds to Instruct the People.”

Vowels And Consonants In the Korean Alphabet

If you are new to the Korean alphabet, it might be difficult to grasp the intricate details of its sounds at first. But that’s not something you need to worry about, as you will get better with time, and it will all start making sense.

Let’s now break down the letters of the Korean alphabet.

Korean consonants

Hangeul consonants have been designed based on the sound that the mouth makes. English speakers often find it hard to pronounce these sounds, so pay attention.

The two consonants (initial consonant and final consonant) are in the form of blocks.

Vowels of the Korean alphabet

Now, let’s learn the Korean vowels.

Tense consonant letters of the Korean alphabet

In the Korean writing system, there are some initial and final consonants that are called “tense consonants.” These are the Korean double consonants.

You might hear native Korean speakers produce different Korean sounds while pronouncing these double consonants. Tourists often have to learn these sounds to navigate through Korea.

Here is a list of them.

Complex Vowels Of The Korean Alphabet

Let’s look at some complex vowels. These are all the Korean letters that have modified vowel sounds and are pronounced differently than the basic vowels.

Complex consonants of the Korean alphabet

Korean learners might not encounter any difficulties regarding consonants and vowels, but they have a hard time learning complex consonants. Here is a list for you to learn from:

How Do You Say “Alphabet” In Korean?

The Korean word for the alphabet is Hangeul (한글) Play 한글

Did you know? The former name of the alphabet in Korean was Hunminjeongeum 훈민정음 Play 훈민정음, which also means the “Proper Sounds for the Instruction of the People.” It was a document made by the great King Sejong, who invented the modern Korean alphabet.

Vocabulary About Learning The Korean Alphabet

Don’t know how to express your interest in learning the Korean alphabet? Let’s take a look at some of the vocabulary for when you’re learning Hangul.

Tips to learn the Korean alphabet

Now that you know the characters in the Korean alphabet, you just need to practice! Here are some tips to help you out:

1. Build Vocabulary

You’ll need some words to practice the Korean alphabet, so now is the time to start working on your vocabulary. It’s best to start with numbers (both Chinese and Korean numbers are used in Korea), days of the week, and simple conversation phrases. 

Then, add certain Korean words related to your reason for learning the language. If you’re learning Korean for a trip, pay close attention to the words related to the direction of movement and transportation. Do you like Korean food? Then work on the words related to food.

2. Watch Korean dramas

Add more Korean to your daily life: watch Korean dramas, movies, and TV shows, thus expanding your vocabulary knowledge. You can activate Korean subtitles and write down all the words you recognize.

3. Engage With The Korean Language

Immersing yourself in the language is a great way to learn and practice, so try to do it every day. For instance, you can change the language on your phone or take notes for reminders in Korean.

You can also read the news and engage with Korean media to get used to seeing the Korean alphabet daily.

4. Get Fully involved in Korean social life

If you are well-off and can afford trips, the best way to learn a language is to get involved with native speakers of that area. So plan a trip to Korea! You’ll be forced to speak and read the language. But try to read the signs in Korean, not their English translations!

Frequently Asked Questions About The Korean Alphabet

1. What is the Korean Alphabet?

The Korean alphabet, known as Hangeul (한글), is the official writing system of Korea. It’s not as complex as it might seem at first glance compared with other Asian languages. Hangeul has 24 letters: 14 consonants and 10 vowels. 

The shape of the consonants is based on the mouth’s position. Vowels simply combine straight and horizontal lines. So you can read Hangeul in just two hours if you make an effort! Also, Korean almost always sounds the way it’s written (with a few exceptions), so it’s easier to pick up. 

2. What Are The Best Resources To Learn The Korean Alphabet?

You can sign up for courses at your university or school if you’re a student. If not, a great way to learn the Korean alphabet is through apps and websites. This is a very easy and fun way to learn if you are short on budget. Or even if you’re just learning as a hobby! The Ling app, for instance, teaches you the Korean alphabet via finger tracing.

3. What Are The Best Tips To Learn The Korean alphabet?

Well, I mentioned that all already! There are so many ways to master the Korean alphabet these days. To be honest, the best is to repeat it until you think it’s yours! Keep reading, writing, listening, and speaking in Korean. That way, you’ll find the Korean alphabet much easier to learn.

Wrapping Up!

There are 10 vowels and 14 consonants in the Hangeul writing system. It’s not that hard to master, especially compared to other Asian writing systems like Chinese.

After reading this post, you know the 24 vowels and consonants in the Korean alphabet, plus all the tense consonants, complex consonants, and complex vowels.

So, all that’s left to do is practice! We gave you some tips for that, so start writing down some words! You can start easy with some simple Korean words.

Master The Korean Alphabet With Us

If you want to master the Korean alphabet, the Ling app can help you! Via the finger tracing method, you’ll learn each Korean character from scratch.

Not only that, you can learn Korean as a whole by studying vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and much more.

So spend just 15 minutes a day on Ling, and you’ll start seeing the difference. I know I did, within a week! If you want to learn Korean on the go, this should be your first pick. 

So, download the app and make Ling your learning buddy today!

Happy Learning! “See you again” – Tto mannayo (또 만나요)