Final consonants
The consonant at the bottom of a block, and its seven sounds.
The consonant at the bottom of a block is its final consonant, the 받침 batchim. Sixteen letters and eleven pairs of letters can stand there, but at the end of a syllable Korean has only seven sounds. The letters keep each word's spelling the same however it is said.
The seven final sounds
| Sound | Letters | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| k | ㄱ ㅋ ㄲ ㄳ ㄺ | 책 chaek book, 부엌 bueok kitchen, 밖 bak outside |
| n | ㄴ ㄵ ㄶ | 산 san mountain, 앉다 anda to sit |
| t | ㄷ ㅅ ㅆ ㅈ ㅊ ㅌ ㅎ | 옷 ot clothes, 낮 nat daytime, 꽃 kkot flower, 밭 bat field |
| l | ㄹ ㄼ ㄽ ㄾ ㅀ | 물 mul water, 여덟 yeodeol eight |
| m | ㅁ ㄻ | 밤 bam night, 삶 sam life |
| p | ㅂ ㅍ ㅄ ㄿ | 밥 bap rice, 앞 ap front, 값 gap price |
| ng | ㅇ | 방 bang room |
Final k, t and p are unreleased: the mouth closes for them but no air is let out, as at the end of a quick English yep.
Before a vowel, the final moves on
When the next syllable starts with a vowel (written with silent ㅇ), the final consonant is said as the start of that syllable, and it keeps its own sound. This is how particles and endings starting with a vowel join a word.
| Alone | Before a vowel | Said |
|---|---|---|
| 옷 ot clothes | 옷이 | 오시 osi |
| 꽃 kkot flower | 꽃을 | 꼬츨 kkocheul |
| 밖 bak outside | 밖에 | 바께 bakke |
| 앞 ap front | 앞에 | 아페 ape |
| 낮 nat daytime | 낮에 | 나제 naje |
| 밭 bat field | 밭에 | 바테 bate |
| 있다 itda to be | 있어요 | 이써요 isseoyo |
Final ㅎ is silent before a vowel: 좋아요 joayo "it's good", 많이 mani "a lot". Final ㅇ doesn't move: 고양이 goyangi "cat" keeps its ng.
Two consonants at the bottom
A block can end in two different consonants. Alone or before a consonant only one is said, usually the first; before a vowel, the second moves on.
| Word | Said | Before a vowel |
|---|---|---|
| 없다 eopda not to have | 업따 | 없어요 eopseoyo, said 업써요 |
| 앉다 anda to sit | 안따 | 앉아요 anjayo |
| 읽다 ikda to read | 익따 | 읽어요 ilgeoyo |
| 많다 manta to be many | 만타 | 많아요 manayo |
| 닭 dak chicken | 닥 | 닭이 dalgi |
| 여덟 yeodeol eight | 여덜 | 여덟이 yeodeolbi |
The Said column also shows tensing: a plain consonant after a final k, t or p becomes tense (Sound changes).
Cards from this guide
9 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Getting started cards.
How many sounds can end a Korean syllable?
Seven: k, n, t, l, m, p and ng.
How is ㅅ said at the end of a syllable, as in 옷 (clothes)?
As t: ot.
How is 옷이 said?
오시 osi.
How is 꽃이 said?
꼬치 kkochi.
What sound does final ㅍ make, as in 앞 (front)?
p: ap.
What happens to final ㅎ before a vowel, as in 좋아요?
It's silent: joayo.
How is 없어요 (there isn't) said?
업써요 eopseoyo.
Which letter of ㄺ is said in 닭 (chicken) on its own?
ㄱ: dak.
Does final ㅇ move on to a following vowel, as in 고양이 (cat)?
No: it stays ng, goyangi.