"Learn Korean with Unnie!"(2)_The 10 Basic Vowels

 

Chapter 2: Korean Vowels

모음 (Vowels)

Now that you know consonants, let's learn vowels!

Korean has 10 basic vowels that combine with consonants to make syllables.

The 10 Basic Vowels:

ㅏ ㅑ ㅓ ㅕ ㅗ ㅛ ㅜ ㅠ ㅡ ㅣ

Important:

✓ Vowels CANNOT stand alone
✓ They must be written with a consonant
✓ Use ㅇ (silent) at the beginning if there's no consonant

Example: 아 = ㅇ + ㅏ (sounds like "ah")

ㅏ

아 (a)

Sound: ah - like 'a' in "father"

📌 Pronunciation Guide

Sound: "ah" - Open your mouth wide
Example word: 아빠 (appa) = dad

✏️ How to Write ㅏ (2 strokes)

1. Stroke 1: Draw a vertical line downward ↓
2. Stroke 2: Draw a short horizontal line to the right →

Position: Written on the RIGHT side of consonants

💡 Memory Tip: The vertical line is the main vowel line, short line points RIGHT!

Practice Writing 아 (ㅇ + ㅏ) - 20 times

아

아

아

아

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ㅑ

야 (ya)

Sound: yah - like 'ya' in "yard"

📌 Pronunciation Guide

Sound: "yah" - Like ㅏ but add 'y' sound at the beginning
Example word: 야구 (yagu) = baseball

✏️ How to Write ㅑ (3 strokes)

1. Stroke 1: Draw a vertical line downward ↓
2. Stroke 2: Draw a short horizontal line to the right (top) →
3. Stroke 3: Draw another short horizontal line to the right (bottom) →

Position: Written on the RIGHT side of consonants

💡 Memory Tip: It's like ㅏ but with TWO short lines = Y sound (double lines)

Practice Writing 야 (ㅇ + ㅑ) - 20 times

야

야

야

야

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ㅓ

어 (eo)

Sound: uh - like 'u' in "butter"

📌 Pronunciation Guide

Sound: "uh" or "aw" - Mouth less open than ㅏ
Example word: 어머니 (eomeoni) = mother

✏️ How to Write ㅓ (2 strokes)

1. Stroke 1: Draw a vertical line downward ↓
2. Stroke 2: Draw a short horizontal line to the LEFT ←

Position: Written on the RIGHT side of consonants (but line points LEFT)

💡 Memory Tip: Opposite of ㅏ! Same vertical line but short line points LEFT

Practice Writing 어 (ㅇ + ㅓ) - 20 times

어

어

어

어

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ㅕ

여 (yeo)

Sound: yuh - like 'yu' in "yummy"

📌 Pronunciation Guide

Sound: "yuh" - Like ㅓ but add 'y' sound at the beginning
Example word: 여자 (yeoja) = woman

✏️ How to Write ㅕ (3 strokes)

1. Stroke 1: Draw a vertical line downward ↓
2. Stroke 2: Draw a short horizontal line to the LEFT (top) ←
3. Stroke 3: Draw another short horizontal line to the LEFT (bottom) ←

Position: Written on the RIGHT side of consonants

💡 Memory Tip: It's like ㅓ but with TWO short lines = Y sound

Practice Writing 여 (ㅇ + ㅕ) - 20 times

여

여

여

여

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ㅗ

오 (o)

Sound: oh - like 'o' in "go"

📌 Pronunciation Guide

Sound: "oh" - Round your lips
Example word: 오빠 (oppa) = older brother (for girls)

✏️ How to Write ㅗ (2 strokes)

1. Stroke 1: Draw a horizontal line from left to right →
2. Stroke 2: Draw a short vertical line upward from the middle ↑

Position: Written BELOW consonants

💡 Memory Tip: Horizontal line with vertical line pointing UP!

Practice Writing 오 (ㅇ + ㅗ) - 20 times

오

오

오

오

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ㅛ

요 (yo)

Sound: yoh - like 'yo' in "yo-yo"

📌 Pronunciation Guide

Sound: "yoh" - Like ㅗ but add 'y' sound at the beginning
Example word: 요리 (yori) = cooking

✏️ How to Write ㅛ (3 strokes)

1. Stroke 1: Draw a horizontal line from left to right →
2. Stroke 2: Draw a short vertical line upward (left) ↑
3. Stroke 3: Draw another short vertical line upward (right) ↑

Position: Written BELOW consonants

💡 Memory Tip: It's like ㅗ but with TWO vertical lines = Y sound

Practice Writing 요 (ㅇ + ㅛ) - 20 times

요

요

요

요

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ㅜ

우 (u)

Sound: oo - like 'oo' in "food"

📌 Pronunciation Guide

Sound: "oo" - Round your lips tightly
Example word: 우유 (uyu) = milk

✏️ How to Write ㅜ (2 strokes)

1. Stroke 1: Draw a horizontal line from left to right →
2. Stroke 2: Draw a short vertical line downward from the middle ↓

Position: Written BELOW consonants

💡 Memory Tip: Opposite of ㅗ! Horizontal line with vertical pointing DOWN

Practice Writing 우 (ㅇ + ㅜ) - 20 times

우

우

우

우

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ㅠ

유 (yu)

Sound: yoo - like 'you'

📌 Pronunciation Guide

Sound: "yoo" - Like ㅜ but add 'y' sound at the beginning
Example word: 유명 (yumyeong) = famous

✏️ How to Write ㅠ (3 strokes)

1. Stroke 1: Draw a horizontal line from left to right →
2. Stroke 2: Draw a short vertical line downward (left) ↓
3. Stroke 3: Draw another short vertical line downward (right) ↓

Position: Written BELOW consonants

💡 Memory Tip: It's like ㅜ but with TWO vertical lines = Y sound

Practice Writing 유 (ㅇ + ㅠ) - 20 times

유

유

유

유

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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