Unit 21 · ㅙ, ㅚ, ㅞ and ㅢ · Read

ㅙ, ㅚ, ㅞ and ㅢ

Recognise the remaining vowel spellings.

Meet the letters

Tap a card and listen. Try saying it too.

ㅙIn 왜
i

wae. ㅗ plus ㅐ.

ㅚIn 외
i

oe / we. Commonly pronounced like we in contemporary speech.

ㅞIn 웨
i

we. ㅜ plus ㅔ.

ㅢIn 의
i

ui. Often eu + i initially. In common positions and in the possessive particle, pronunciation can change; listen to 의사 and the course phrases.

Build a syllable

A quick first step: fit the new letters into a block. Next, find syllables in words and practise reading, listening and writing.

1 · Start2 · Vowel
ㅇㅐㅗ
왜
ㅇ + ㅙ
1 · Start2 · Vowel
ㅇㅣㅗ
외
ㅇ + ㅚ
1 · Start2 · Vowel
ㅇㅔㅜ
웨
ㅇ + ㅞ
1 · Start2 · Vowel
ㅇㅣㅡ
의
ㅇ + ㅢ

Words to read

why

왜

whywae
key

열쇠

keyyeolsoe
sweater

스웨터

sweaterseuweteo
doctor

의사

doctoruisa
Reading tips

ㅙ · wae · ㅗ plus ㅐ.

ㅚ · oe / we · Commonly pronounced like we in contemporary speech.

ㅞ · we · ㅜ plus ㅔ.

ㅢ · ui · Often eu + i initially. In common positions and in the possessive particle, pronunciation can change; listen to 의사 and the course phrases.

The we-like spellings often sound alike. Learn their printed shapes through why, key and sweater.

의사 is doctor. Use word recordings where available and recognise the printed spelling of the borrowed word sweater.

Reading practice

First, place the new letters

Copy this block using its start, vowel and any ending.

왜
1 · Start2 · Vowel
122
□
Start → vowel

First, place the new letters

Copy this block using its start, vowel and any ending.

외
1 · Start2 · Vowel
122
□
Start → vowel

First, place the new letters

Copy this block using its start, vowel and any ending.

웨
1 · Start2 · Vowel
122
□
Start → vowel

First, place the new letters

Copy this block using its start, vowel and any ending.

의
1 · Start2 · Vowel
122
□
Start → vowel

Find the syllable in its word

Match each syllable to the highlighted part of a word.

Hear the whole word

Listen. Find its printed word.

Read without a sound hint

Read the words. Match their pictures.

Sound to spelling

Listen. Choose the word you studied.

Spelling to sound

Read the word. Choose its sound.

열쇠

Sound to spelling

Listen. Choose the word you studied.

Spelling to sound

Read the word. Choose its sound.

의사

Write the word

Look and listen. Write the word with consonants and vowels.

why

Write the word

Look and listen. Write the word with consonants and vowels.

key

Write the word

Look and listen. Write the word with consonants and vowels.

sweater

Write the word

Look and listen. Write the word with consonants and vowels.

doctor

Finish practice to save this unit.

You can read and write this

Recognise the remaining vowel spellings.

Next unit
why

왜

why
key

열쇠

key
sweater

스웨터

sweater
doctor

의사

doctor
Use a Korean keyboard

The on-screen keys use consonant and vowel elements and join them into ordinary written words.

For your own typing, enable a Korean two-set keyboard on your device. Enter the start, vowel and optional final consonant in order.

All letters

ㅇIn 아
i

silent initially / ng finally. A syllable needs an initial consonant position. ㅇ fills it silently before a vowel; at the bottom of 강, it is ng.

ㅏIn 아
i

a. An open a. With a vertical vowel, the initial consonant sits on the left.

ㅣIn 이
i

i. A clear ee vowel.

ㅗIn 오
i

o. A rounded o. A horizontal vowel goes underneath the initial consonant.

ㅜIn 우
i

u. A rounded oo vowel.

ㅠIn 유
i

yu. A y glide plus ㅜ.

ㄴIn 나
i

n. Tongue at the ridge behind the upper teeth.

ㅁIn 마
i

m. Close the lips.

ㄷIn 다
i

d/t (lax). Another lax stop; listen to its position in words.

ㅅIn 사
i

s. Before 이 it is commonly nearer sh.

ㅓIn 어
i

eo / ʌ. An open unrounded vowel; not a sequence e + o.

ㅡIn 으
i

eu / ɯ. A high unrounded vowel; not oo. Keep the lips unrounded.

ㄹIn 라
i

r/l. Often a short tap between vowels and l at the end of a syllable.

ㅂIn 바
i

b/p (lax). A lax lip stop; voicing varies with position.

ㄱIn 가
i

g/k (lax). A Korean lax stop. Its voicing depends on position; it is not simply an English g everywhere.

ㅋIn 카
i

kʰ (airy). A stronger puff of air than lax ㄱ.

ㄲIn 까
i

kk (tense). Firm tense articulation; not two separately spoken k syllables.

ㅑIn 야
i

ya. The extra stroke adds a y glide.

ㅕIn 여
i

yeo. A y glide plus ㅓ.

ㅛIn 요
i

yo. A y glide plus ㅗ.

ㅌIn 타
i

tʰ (airy). A puff of air; not English th.

ㄸIn 따
i

tt (tense). Firm articulation; no separate extra syllable.

ㅍIn 파
i

pʰ (airy). A puff of air after the lips open.

ㅃIn 빠
i

pp (tense). Firm lip closure.

ㅆIn 싸
i

ss (tense). A tense s; compare ㅅ.

ㅈIn 자
i

j/ch (lax). A lax joined consonant; listen rather than substituting one English sound.

ㅊIn 차
i

chʰ (airy). An airy joined consonant.

ㅉIn 짜
i

jj (tense). A tense joined consonant.

ㅎIn 하
i

h. An h sound; it can interact with following consonants.

ㅐIn 애
i

ae. Often pronounced like ㅔ in modern standard speech.

ㅔIn 에
i

e. Often merges with ㅐ; still learn the distinct spelling.

ㅒIn 얘
i

yae. A y glide with ㅐ.

ㅖIn 예
i

ye. A y glide with ㅔ; pronunciation varies in some consonant contexts.

ㅘIn 와
i

wa. ㅗ plus ㅏ in one syllable.

ㅝIn 워
i

wo. ㅜ plus ㅓ.

ㅟIn 위
i

wi. ㅜ plus ㅣ.

ㅙIn 왜
i

wae. ㅗ plus ㅐ.

ㅚIn 외
i

oe / we. Commonly pronounced like we in contemporary speech.

ㅞIn 웨
i

we. ㅜ plus ㅔ.

ㅢIn 의
i

ui. Often eu + i initially. In common positions and in the possessive particle, pronunciation can change; listen to 의사 and the course phrases.