안녕하세요Hello

Hangul vowels are built from horizontal strokes, vertical strokes, and dots. First learn the six basic vowels, then four "y"-glide vowels.

• ㅏalike the "a" in "father" · mouth open, vertical line + dot on the right
• ㅓeolike the "u" in "but" · vertical line + dot on the left
• ㅗolike the "o" in "more" · horizontal line + dot on top, lips rounded
• ㅜulike the "oo" in "boot" · horizontal line + dot below, lips rounded
• ㅡeuno English equivalent — say "oo" with unrounded, spread lips · single horizontal line, lips spread flat
• ㅣilike the "ee" in "see" · single vertical line, lips spread wide
• ㅑyalike "ya" in "yard" · ㅏ with two dots
• ㅕyeolike "yu" in "young" · ㅓ with two dots
• ㅛyolike "yo" in "yoga" · ㅗ with two dots
• ㅠyulike "you" · ㅜ with two dots

The consonant shapes imitate the mouth and tongue making the sound. Today learn five consonants, plus the silent ㅇ. Korean consonants shift sound slightly depending on position.

• ㄱg / kbetween "g" in "go" and "k" in "ski" · back of tongue at the soft palate
• ㄴnlike "n" in "no" · tongue tip behind upper teeth
• ㄷd / tbetween "d" in "do" and "t" in "stop" · tongue tip at the ridge behind teeth
• ㄹr / la soft flap between "r" and "l" — like the "tt" in American "butter" · tongue tip taps the ridge (flap)
• ㅁmlike "m" in "me" · lips together, voice through nose
• ㅇsilent / ngsilent as an initial (아 = "a"); "ng" as a final (강 = "gang") · a circle — placeholder at the start, "ng" at the end

Hangul groups a consonant and a vowel into one square to make a syllable block. Vertical vowels (ㅏㅣ) go to the right of the consonant; horizontal vowels (ㅗㅜㅡ) go below it.

Now let's read the first greeting one syllable at a time: