When letters meet: sound changes
Korean is written one way and sometimes said a little differently. The changes are not random: a few simple rules make the words easier to say, and Koreans follow them without thinking.
Start with the cards for a quick overview, then go through the rules one by one. In each example the left side is the spelling, and the part in [brackets] is how Koreans actually say it. Tap any example to hear it.
Most rules depend on the 7 final sound groups from lesson 5. A "ㄱ-group" final means ㄱ, ㅋ or ㄲ at the bottom, "ㄷ-group" means ㄷ ㅌ ㅅ ㅆ ㅈ ㅊ ㅎ, and "ㅂ-group" means ㅂ or ㅍ.
The rules at a glance: tap to hear
1. Linking: the final slides into ㅇ
This is the rule you will use most. When a block ends in a final consonant and the next block starts with the silent ㅇ, the final moves over and takes the place of the ㅇ.
Once it moves, it is no longer at the bottom, so it gets its normal sound back. 직업 (job) is said 지겁, with a soft g, not the cut-off k you hear in 직.
With a two-letter final, the first letter stays and the second moves: 넓어요 → 널버요, 젊어요 → 절머요. One exception: a final ㅇ never moves. 고양이 stays 고양이.
2. A final ㅎ before ㅇ goes silent
There is one special case for linking. A final ㅎ (alone, or inside ㄶ and ㅀ) does not move over. It simply disappears.
So 놓아요 is said 노아요, never 노하요. You hear this in some of the most common words in Korean.
3. ㅎ adds a puff of air
When ㅎ meets ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ or ㅈ, the two merge into one breathy sound: ㄱ becomes ㅋ, ㄷ becomes ㅌ, ㅂ becomes ㅍ and ㅈ becomes ㅊ.
It works in both orders. ㅎ can be the final (끊다 → 끈타) or the next letter (축하 → 추카). A ㄷ-group final such as ㅅ counts as ㄷ here, so 깨끗해요 becomes 깨끄태요.
4. Nasal sounds before ㄴ and ㅁ
When a cut-off final meets ㄴ or ㅁ, it turns into the nasal sound made in the same spot of the mouth. This makes the word much easier to say.
ㄱ-group finals become ㅇ (ng). ㄷ-group finals become ㄴ. ㅂ-group finals become ㅁ. That last one is why every 합니다 and 습니다 ending is said 함니다 and 슴니다.
| Final | Before ㄴ or ㅁ it becomes | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ㄱ ㅋ ㄲ | ㅇ | 학년 → 항년 |
| ㄷ ㅌ ㅅ ㅆ ㅈ ㅊ ㅎ | ㄴ | 거짓말 → 거진말 |
| ㅂ ㅍ | ㅁ | 갑니다 → 감니다 |
5. When ㄹ meets ㄴ
ㄴ and ㄹ side by side, in either order, both become ㄹ. You hear a long, clear l: 신라 is said 실라.
After ㅁ or ㅇ, a ㄹ becomes ㄴ: 심리 → 심니. After a ㄱ- or ㅂ-group final, both letters change: the ㄹ becomes ㄴ, and that ㄴ makes the final nasal. 독립 → 동닙.
6. Tense sounds after ㄱ, ㄷ and ㅂ
After a ㄱ-, ㄷ- or ㅂ-group final, the next ㄱ ㄷ ㅂ ㅅ ㅈ becomes tense: ㄲ ㄸ ㅃ ㅆ ㅉ. Your mouth is already closed from the final, so the next sound comes out tight.
Romanization does not show this change, so 식당 is still written sikdang. Trust the sound: it is said 식땅.
| After a final in | ㄱ ㄷ ㅂ ㅅ ㅈ become | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ㄱ group | ㄲ ㄸ ㅃ ㅆ ㅉ | 책상 → 책쌍 |
| ㄷ group | ㄲ ㄸ ㅃ ㅆ ㅉ | 젓가락 → 젇까락 |
| ㅂ group | ㄲ ㄸ ㅃ ㅆ ㅉ | 잡지 → 잡찌 |
7. ㄷ and ㅌ before 이
A final ㄷ or ㅌ followed by 이 does not link as 디 or 티. It turns into 지 or 치 instead, and this beats the normal linking rule.
So 같이 (together) is said 가치, and 굳이 (needlessly) is said 구지.
Say these the natural way
You already know every letter in these words. Try reading each one before you look at the romanization.
Quick quiz
5 quick questions on this lesson.
Want to practice more? Try typing in Korean.