Pronunciation Guide: 발음 규칙

Batchim 받침

What is Batchim? 받침이란?

A batchim (받침, literally 'support') is a consonant placed at the bottom of a Korean syllable block. For example, in the syllable 강, the ㅇ at the bottom is the batchim. Not all syllables have a batchim — many end with just the vowel. Batchim is why Korean words like 산, 달, and 밥 end with a distinct consonant sound rather than an open vowel.

The 7 Batchim Sound Groups 받침 7종성

Although many different consonants can appear as batchim in spelling, they all reduce to only 7 possible sounds when pronounced. This is known as the 7 rules of batchim (받침 7종성). Learning these 7 groups is essential — it explains why 닭 (chicken) and 국 (soup) both end with the same k sound.

• ㄱ-group: ㄱ, ㄲ, ㅋ, ㄳ, ㄺ → pronounced k (unreleased) — example: 국 (soup), 닭 (chicken)
• ㄴ-group: ㄴ, ㄵ, ㄶ → pronounced n — example: 산 (mountain), 앉다 (to sit)
• ㄷ-group: ㄷ, ㅅ, ㅆ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅌ, ㅎ → pronounced t (unreleased) — example: 옷 (clothes), 꽃 (flower)
• ㄹ-group: ㄹ, ㄼ, ㄽ, ㄾ, ㅀ → pronounced l — example: 달 (moon), 말 (horse)
• ㅁ-group: ㅁ, ㄻ → pronounced m — example: 밤 (night), 삶 (life)
• ㅂ-group: ㅂ, ㅍ, ㄿ, ㄼ → pronounced p (unreleased) — example: 입 (mouth), 앞 (front)
• ㅇ-group: ㅇ → pronounced ng — example: 강 (river), 방 (room)

Words and phrases

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Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
국	guk	soup — ㄱ-group batchim, pronounced k (unreleased)
산	san	mountain — ㄴ-group batchim, pronounced n
옷	ot	clothes — ㄷ-group batchim (ㅅ→t), pronounced t (unreleased)
달	dal	moon — ㄹ-group batchim, pronounced l
밤	bam	night / chestnut — ㅁ-group batchim, pronounced m
입	ip	mouth — ㅂ-group batchim, pronounced p (unreleased)
강	gang	river — ㅇ-group batchim, pronounced ng
닭	dak	chicken — double batchim ㄺ (ㄹ+ㄱ) → ㄱ group → k sound
꽃	kkot	flower — batchim ㅊ belongs to the ㄷ-group → t sound

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Liaison 연음화

Liaison — Linking Sound 연음화

When a syllable ending in a batchim is immediately followed by a syllable that begins with the silent ㅇ, the batchim consonant moves forward and becomes the initial consonant of the next syllable. The spelling stays the same — only the pronunciation shifts. This is called liaison (연음화) and it is one of the most frequent pronunciation phenomena in Korean.

Words and phrases

Why Does Liaison Happen? 왜 연음화가 일어날까?

Korean syllable structure strongly prefers the pattern consonant + vowel. When a vowel-initial syllable follows a batchim, it is phonetically easier for the consonant to attach to that vowel's open slot. The result is a more natural, connected flow of speech. This is not slang or lazy pronunciation — it is standard Korean and will be heard in news broadcasts, formal speeches, and everyday conversation alike.

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Assimilation 비음화

Nasal Assimilation 비음화

When a stop consonant batchim from the ㄱ, ㄷ, or ㅂ groups is followed by the nasal consonants ㄴ or ㅁ, the stop assimilates and changes to its corresponding nasal sound. This is purely articulatory: nasal consonants require the velum to lower, which pulls adjacent stops into nasal territory. The spelling stays the same; only the pronunciation changes.

• ㅂ + ㄴ/ㅁ → ㅁ: the lip-stop becomes a lip-nasal — 입니다 → 임니다
• ㄱ + ㄴ/ㅁ → ㅇ: the velar-stop becomes a velar-nasal — 국물 → 궁물
• ㄷ + ㄴ/ㅁ → ㄴ: the alveolar-stop becomes an alveolar-nasal — 걷는다 → 건는다

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The Assimilation Pattern is Always One Direction 동화 방향

Nasal assimilation always goes the same way: the stop becomes nasal, never the other way around. The nasal consonant 'infects' the preceding sound. Once you spot the pattern ㅂ→ㅁ, ㄷ→ㄴ, ㄱ→ㅇ, you will start hearing and predicting these changes automatically in real Korean speech.

Tensification 경음화

Tensification 경음화

After certain batchim consonants — specifically the unreleased stop batchim sounds from the ㄱ, ㄷ, and ㅂ groups — the following consonant becomes tensed (doubled). The written form does not change; only the pronunciation shifts. Tensification is why 학교 (school) sounds like 학꾜 instead of 학교.

Words and phrases

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
학교	hak-kkyo	school — ㄱ batchim triggers tensification: ㄱ→ㄲ, sounds like 학꾜
식당	sik-ttang	restaurant — ㄱ batchim triggers tensification: ㄷ→ㄸ, sounds like 식땅
닫다	dat-tta	to close — ㄷ batchim triggers tensification: ㄷ→ㄸ, sounds like 닫따
입구	ip-kku	entrance — ㅂ batchim triggers tensification: ㄱ→ㄲ, sounds like 입꾸

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ㅎ Weakening ㅎ 약화

The consonant ㅎ is one of Korean's most unstable sounds. Between vowels — whether ㅎ is a batchim or an initial consonant — it weakens significantly and often disappears almost entirely. This is why 좋아요 (it is good) sounds like 조아요 rather than 조하요. The ㅎ is still written, but the sound nearly vanishes.

Words and phrases

ㅎ + Consonant = Aspiration ㅎ 축약

When ㅎ batchim meets the next syllable's initial consonant (or vice versa), the two merge into a single aspirated consonant. ㅎ + ㄷ becomes ㅌ. ㄱ + ㅎ becomes ㅋ. ㅂ + ㅎ becomes ㅍ. ㄷ + ㅎ (or ㅎ + ㄷ) becomes ㅌ. Think of ㅎ as adding a puff of air to the adjacent consonant.

• ㅎ + ㄷ → ㅌ: 놓다 (to place) → 노타
• ㄱ + ㅎ → ㅋ: 착하다 (kind) → 차카다
• ㅂ + ㅎ → ㅍ: 입학 (enrollment) → 이팍
• ㄷ + ㅎ → ㅌ: 못해요 (can't do) → 모태요

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Palatal & ㄹ 구개음화

Palatalization 구개음화

When the consonants ㄷ or ㅌ appear as batchim and are followed by the vowel 이 (i), they shift forward in the mouth and change into ㅈ and ㅊ respectively. This shift is called palatalization — the consonant moves from the tooth ridge to the palate to anticipate the front vowel 이.

• ㄷ + 이 → ㅈ이 → 지: 굳이 (deliberately) → 구지
• ㅌ + 이 → ㅊ이 → 치: 같이 (together) → 가치

Words and phrases

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The ㄹ Sound 리을

The Korean consonant ㄹ is often described as between r and l — and that is precisely correct. Its exact realisation depends on its position within the syllable. Between two vowels, ㄹ is a single fast tap of the tongue tip against the ridge just behind the upper teeth — the same motion as the flap r in American English 'butter' or 'water'. At the end of a syllable or before a consonant, hold the tongue lightly at that same ridge for a gentle l sound.

Words and phrases

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
라면	ra-myeon	instant noodles — ㄹ in initial position (before vowel): quick r-tap
달	dal	moon — ㄹ as final batchim: held l sound
빨리	ppal-li	quickly, fast — doubled ㄹㄹ: held l then r-tap
사랑해요	sa-rang-hae-yo	I love you — ㄹ between vowels (랑→해): r-tap sound

ㄹ + ㄴ or ㄴ + ㄹ → ㄹㄹ 유음화

When ㄹ and ㄴ appear adjacent across syllables, they both become ㄹ — this is called lateralisation (유음화). Example: 신라 (Silla dynasty) is pronounced 실라 (silla), not sin-ra. Similarly, 연락 (contact) is pronounced 열락 (yeollak). The ㄴ fully converts to ㄹ when adjacent to ㄹ.

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Mistakes 흔한 실수

6 Common Mistakes for English Speakers 흔한 발음 실수

Korean and English have very different phonological systems. The next six steps each cover one common pronunciation error made by English speakers — with clear explanations of how to correct it. Recognising these patterns early saves months of bad habits.

Mistake 1 — Pronouncing ㅡ like 'oo' ㅡ 발음 오류

ㅡ has no English equivalent. It is a back unrounded vowel — your tongue is in the oo position but your lips are completely flat and unrounded, as if you are saying 'uh' with a stiff, spread mouth. Words like 으, 크다, 든지 all use this sound. The moment your lips round, you are producing the wrong vowel.

Mistake 2 — Treating ㅓ as English 'er' ㅓ 발음 오류

ㅓ is often transcribed as 'eo' or 'uh' — but it is not the American English 'er' which carries an r-colouring. Korean ㅓ is a mid-back unrounded vowel. Think of the British English 'uh' in 'but' or 'cup' — no rounding, no r-sound, mouth slightly open. Adding any hint of r-sound immediately makes the vowel sound foreign.

Mistake 3 — Puffing Air on Double Consonants 된소리 오류

English speakers naturally add aspiration to stop consonants. Korean tensed (doubled) consonants ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ are never aspirated. They are produced with tight muscles and no outward puff of air. Hold a piece of paper in front of your mouth — it should not move when you say 까, 따, 빠, 싸, 짜. The contrast is between tight-and-held versus pushed-out air.

Mistake 4 — Rising Intonation on All Questions 억양 오류

In English, rising intonation at the end of a sentence signals a question. In Korean, intonation rules differ: yes/no questions do use a slight rise at the end, but wh-questions (who, what, where, when, why, how) typically use a falling or neutral intonation — not rising. Overusing English-style rising intonation on all Korean questions sounds unnatural and sometimes uncertain or pleading.

Mistake 5 — ㅅ as Plain 's' before i-Vowels ㅅ 발음 오류

Before the vowels 이, 야, 여, 요, 유, the consonant ㅅ is pronounced like English 'sh'. So 시 is 'shi' not 'si', and 셔츠 (shirt) begins with 'sh'. This also applies to tensed ㅆ before 이 → 'sshi'. English speakers who learned romanization first often say 'si' when native speakers say 'shi', which is immediately noticeable.

Mistake 6 — Pronouncing the ㅎ in 좋아요 ㅎ 오류

Beginners often say 'jo-ha-yo' for 좋아요, treating ㅎ as a clearly pronounced h-sound. But due to ㅎ weakening between vowels (which you learned in Stage 4), the actual pronunciation is 조아요 (jo-a-yo) — the ㅎ nearly disappears. This applies broadly: 많아요 → 마나요, 낳아요 → 나아요. Whenever ㅎ sits between vowels in a natural speech context, it fades.

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