Lesson 1
Read the basic vowels
- Goal
- Read the 10 basic vowels written with ㅇ
- Grammar point
- ㅇ at the start of a syllable is normally silent. A vowel is written together with ㅇ.
Notes
- 어 and 오, and 으 and 우, sound alike in romanization. Learn them by sound and mouth shape.
- With a vertical-stroke vowel the consonant goes on the left; with a horizontal-stroke vowel it goes on top.
- Romanization is only an approximation. For 어/오 and 우/으, learning by listening is recommended.
Words
아
Romanization: a
the sound “a”
어
Romanization: eo
“o” with the mouth slightly open
오
Romanization: o
“o” with rounded lips
우
Romanization: u
“u” with rounded lips
으
Romanization: eu
“u” with lips pulled sideways
이
Romanization: i
the sound “i”
야
Romanization: ya
the sound “ya”
여
Romanization: yeo
a “yo” sound (open mouth)
요
Romanization: yo
a “yo” sound (rounded lips)
유
Romanization: yu
the sound “yu”
Example sentences
아는 ㅇ과 ㅏ로 써요.
Romanization: aneun ㅇgwa ㅏro sseoyo.
아 is written with ㅇ and ㅏ.
어와 오는 다른 소리예요.
Romanization: eowa oneun dareun soriyeyo.
어 and 오 are different sounds.
우와 으도 달라요.
Romanization: uwa eudo dallayo.
우 and 으 are different too.
이를 읽어 보세요.
Romanization: ireul ilgeo boseyo.
Try reading 이.
Dialogue
- A
아!
Romanization: a!
Ah!
- B
오!
Romanization: o!
Oh!
- A
이건 아예요.
Romanization: igeon ayeyo.
This is “a”.
- B
이건 어예요.
Romanization: igeon eoyeyo.
This is the Hangul letter “어”.
- A
어와 오는 달라요.
Romanization: eowa oneun dallayo.
어 and 오 are different.
- B
천천히 읽어 보세요.
Romanization: cheoncheonhi ilgeo boseyo.
Try reading it slowly.
Check quiz
1. How is “이” pronounced?
2. Which sound is close to “우”?
3. What makes up “아”?
4. Which sound is close to “여”?
5. How do you say “으”?
