Sound changes
How letters change their sound where syllables meet.
Spelling keeps each word's parts the same, and speech smooths the joins between them. The changes are regular, and Revised Romanization follows most of them: 합니다 is written hamnida because it is said 함니다. Tensing is the exception it leaves out.
Nasalization
Before ㄴ or ㅁ, a final k becomes ng, t becomes n and p becomes m.
| Written | Said | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 합니다 hamnida | 함니다 | does (formal) |
| 감사합니다 gamsahamnida | 감사함니다 | thank you |
| 한국말 hangungmal | 한궁말 | the Korean language |
| 먹는 meongneun | 멍는 | eating |
| 작년 jangnyeon | 장년 | last year |
| 있는 inneun | 인는 | that there is |
| 콧물 konmul | 콘물 | runny nose |
ㄹ and ㄴ
Where ㄴ and ㄹ meet, both are said l: 설날 seollal (설랄) "New Year's Day", 신라 Silla (실라), 연락 yeollak (열락) "contact". After other consonants ㄹ is said n: 종로 Jongno (종노), 심리 simni (심니) "psychology".
Tensing
After a final k, t or p, a plain ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ or ㅈ is said tense. Revised Romanization doesn't show this.
| Written | Said | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 학교 hakgyo | 학꾜 | school |
| 먹다 meokda | 먹따 | to eat |
| 식당 sikdang | 식땅 | restaurant |
| 잡지 japji | 잡찌 | magazine |
| 듣고 deutgo | 듣꼬 | listening and |
It also happens after the future ending -(으)ㄹ: 갈 거예요 gal geoyeyo "I'll go" is said 갈 꺼예요.
ㅎ
- Next to ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ or ㅈ, ㅎ makes them aspirated: 좋다 jota (조타), 어떻게 eotteoke (어떠케) "how", 많다 manta (만타), 입학 (이팍) "entering a school".
- Before a vowel, a final ㅎ is silent: 좋아요 joayo, 괜찮아요 gwaenchanayo (괜차나요) "it's fine".
- Between vowels or after ㄴ, ㄹ, ㅁ and ㅇ, ㅎ is faint and often dropped in quick speech: 전화 jeonhwa "phone" is said nearly 저놔, 은행 eunhaeng "bank" nearly 으냉.
ㄷ and ㅌ before 이
Final ㄷ and ㅌ before 이 are said ㅈ and ㅊ: 같이 gachi (가치) "together", 굳이 guji (구지) "insistently", 해돋이 haedoji (해도지) "sunrise".
ㅢ
ㅢ is ui at the start of a word (의사 uisa "doctor"), i after a consonant (희망 huimang "hope" is said 히망), and often i later in a word. The particle 의 "of" is usually said e: 우리의 is said 우리에.
Cards from this guide
11 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 is 합니다 said?
함니다 hamnida.
How is 먹는 (eating) said?
멍는 meongneun.
How is 한국말 (the Korean language) said?
한궁말 hangungmal.
How is 설날 (New Year's Day) said?
설랄 seollal.
How is 학교 (school) said, and how is it romanized?
Said 학꾜, but romanized hakgyo.
How is 좋다 (to be good) said?
조타 jota.
How is 어떻게 (how) said?
어떠케 eotteoke.
How is 같이 (together) said?
가치 gachi.
How is 전화 (phone) often said in quick speech?
Close to 저놔: the ㅎ is faint.
How is 종로 said?
종노 Jongno.
How is the particle 의 (of) usually said?
As e: 우리의 is said 우리에.