Learn the Korean Alphabet (Hangul)
Hangul is the alphabet used in the Korean language. It was created in the 15th century by King Sejong the Great. Hangul is unique because it is a featural alphabet, where the shapes of the letters are related to their phonetic features. This guide will help you understand and learn Hangul from A to Z.
Latin to Korean / Korean to Latin Converter
Consonants
The Korean alphabet has 14 basic consonants and 5 double consonants. Each consonant has a specific pronunciation. Below is a table of Korean consonants with their corresponding Latin letters and pronunciation.
| Latin Letter | Korean Character | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| B | ㅂ | b/p |
| C | ㅋ | k |
| D | ㄷ | d/t |
| G | ㄱ | g/k |
| H | ㅎ | h |
| J | ㅈ | j |
| K | ㅋ | k |
| L | ㄹ | r/l |
| M | ㅁ | m |
| N | ㄴ | n |
| P | ㅍ | p |
| R | ㄹ | r/l |
| S | ㅅ | s |
| T | ㅌ | t |
| W | ㅝ | w |
| X | ㅅ | x |
| Y | ㅛ | y |
| Z | ㅈ | z |
Vowels
The Korean alphabet also includes 10 basic vowels and 11 complex vowels. Here are the basic vowels and their corresponding Latin letters and pronunciation.
| Latin Letter | Korean Character | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| A | ㅏ | a |
| E | ㅔ | e |
| I | ㅣ | i |
| O | ㅗ | o |
| U | ㅜ | u |
Examples
How to Write Hangul
Writing Hangul involves combining consonants and vowels to form syllables. Each syllable block typically contains at least one consonant and one vowel. For example, the word for Korea is "한국" (Hanguk). Here’s how to write a few basic words:
- 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) - Hello
- 사랑해 (saranghae) - I love you
- 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) - Thank you
Interesting Facts
Hangul was invented by King Sejong the Great in the 15th century to promote literacy among the common people. It is considered one of the most scientific alphabets in the world due to its simple and logical design. Here are some interesting facts about Hangul:
- Hangul was initially named "Hunminjeongeum" which means "The Correct Sounds for the Instruction of the People".
- Hangul is a featural alphabet, where the shapes of the letters mimic the shape of the mouth when they are spoken.
- Hangul is made up of 14 basic consonants and 10 basic vowels, which can be combined to form complex sounds.
Practice
Try writing your name in Hangul using the tables above. You can also use online tools to convert Latin alphabet text to Hangul. Here are some online tools you can use:
Learning Tools
Here are some tools and resources to help you learn Hangul: