KoreanSum

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How is it pronounced? 발음

Short answer: Korean is not always said the way it is written. Consonants link, merge and change next to each other — 먹어요 is said [머거요], 합니다 [함니다], 같이 [가치]. Type anything to see the real sound.

Follows the standard pronunciation rules (표준 발음법). A few changes belong to single words and can’t be worked out by rule — for example 발전 [발쩐] or 솜이불 [솜니불]. Each word is pronounced on its own; in fast speech, words also link together.

The sound-change rules

Every example below is worked out by the same engine as the tool.

Linking 연음

A final consonant (받침) moves to the next syllable when that syllable starts with the silent ㅇ.

  • 먹어요[머거요]
  • 한국어[한구거]
  • 앉아요[안자요]
  • 읽어요[일거요]
  • 있어요[이써요]

Silent ㅎ ㅎ 탈락

A final ㅎ is not pronounced before a vowel.

  • 좋아요[조아요]
  • 많아요[마나요]
  • 싫어요[시러요]
  • 괜찮아요[괜차나요]

Aspiration 격음화

ㅎ next to ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ or ㅈ merges with it into ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ or ㅊ.

  • 좋고[조코]
  • 축하해요[추카해요]
  • 입학[이팍]
  • 못해요[모태요]
  • 많다[만타]

Nasalisation 비음화

Before ㄴ or ㅁ, the sounds ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ become ㅇ, ㄴ, ㅁ. After ㅁ or ㅇ, ㄹ is said as ㄴ.

  • 합니다[함니다]
  • 먹는[멍는]
  • 있는[인는]
  • 국물[궁물]
  • 종로[종노]
  • 독립[동닙]

ㄹ assimilation 유음화

ㄴ next to ㄹ is said as ㄹ.

  • 신라[실라]
  • 설날[설랄]
  • 연락[열락]
  • 편리[펼리]

Tensing 경음화

After ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ sounds, the next ㄱ ㄷ ㅂ ㅅ ㅈ become ㄲ ㄸ ㅃ ㅆ ㅉ. It also happens after verb stems ending in ㄴ or ㅁ and after the future ending -ㄹ.

  • 학교[학꾜]
  • 먹다[먹따]
  • 있습니다[읻씀니다]
  • 식당[식땅]
  • 잡지[잡찌]

Palatalisation 구개음화

ㄷ or ㅌ followed by 이 is said as 지 or 치.

  • 같이[가치]
  • 굳이[구지]
  • 닫히다[다치다]
  • 해돋이[해도지]

Double final consonants 겹받침

Of two final consonants, only one is said before a consonant or at the end of a word. Before a vowel, both are said.

  • 닭[닥]
  • 앉다[안따]
  • 여덟[여덜]
  • 읽다[익따]
  • 없다[업따]
  • 값[갑]

ㅢ after a consonant 모음 ㅢ

ㅢ after a consonant is said as ㅣ. (At the start of a word, 의 keeps its sound.)

  • 희망[히망]
  • 무늬[무니]
  • 띄어쓰기[띠어쓰기]

Questions

Why is 감사합니다 pronounced 감사함니다?

Before ㄴ or ㅁ, the ㅂ sound becomes ㅁ (nasalisation, 비음화): 합니다 → [함니다].

Why does 먹어요 sound like 머거요?

When the next syllable starts with the silent ㅇ, the final consonant moves over and is said there (linking, 연음).

How do you romanize Korean?

South Korea’s official Revised Romanization follows the pronunciation: 같이 → gachi, 신라 → Silla. Tensed sounds are not written (학교 → hakgyo).

Rules: 표준어 규정 제2부 표준 발음법 and 국어의 로마자 표기법 (romanization) — 국립국어원 한국어 어문 규범.