Korean Pronunciation Rules
Batchim
Changing Sounds of Consonants
ㅅ sometimes sound like a ‘t’
Certain consonants change to a ‘t’ sound when they are in the batchim position. These consonants are ㄷ,ㅈ,ㅅ,ㅆ,ㅌ, and ㅊ.
If you see a single syllable that ends in ㄷ,ㅈ,ㅅ,ㅆ,ㅌ,ㅊ, then you can pronounce the final consonant as “t.”
Example:
맛 (taste) = [맡] – ends in ‘t’ instead of ‘s’
mat mat
있다 (to be) = [잍다] – ends in ‘t’ instead of ‘s’
itta itta
Special rules for Korean word pronunciation
Although you may sound out the Hangul words following the syllables, however, there’s some special rules when different consonants meet one another of the most important thing to keep in mind when pronouncing these last consonant sounds are that they frequently become "lighter" (shorter or voiceless), transfer to the following syllable, or even go quiet.
Consonant Following a Vowel
When the word ends with a consonant and followed by letter ㅇ (no consonant sound), the consonant will replace ㅇ.
Example:
ㅅ sometimes sound like a ‘t’
Certain consonants change to a ‘t’ sound when they are in the batchim position. These consonants are ㄷ,ㅈ,ㅅ,ㅆ,ㅌ, and ㅊ.
If you see a single syllable that ends in ㄷ,ㅈ,ㅅ,ㅆ,ㅌ,ㅊ, then you can pronounce the final consonant as “t.”
Example:
맛 (taste) = [맡] – ends in ‘t’ instead of ‘s’
mat mat
있다 (to be) = [잍다] – ends in ‘t’ instead of ‘s’
itta itta
Special rules for Korean word pronunciation
Although you may sound out the Hangul words following the syllables, however, there’s some special rules when different consonants meet one another of the most important thing to keep in mind when pronouncing these last consonant sounds are that they frequently become "lighter" (shorter or voiceless), transfer to the following syllable, or even go quiet.
Consonant Following a Vowel
When the word ends with a consonant and followed by letter ㅇ (no consonant sound), the consonant will replace ㅇ.
Example:
| 먹이 | meog - i | 머기 | meo - gi |
| 풀이 | pul - i | 푸리 | pu - li |