Sound Changes · 발음 규칙

2. How it works

2.1 Linking — 연음

When a final consonant is followed by ㅇ, the final consonant moves over and becomes the start of the next syllable. The ㅇ is silent, so the sounds just join.

한국어 → [한구거] → han-gu-geo
음악   → [으막]   → eu-mak
옷이   → [오시]   → o-si
읽어요 → [일거요] → il-geo-yo

In 읽어요, the final ㄱ of 읽 moves to the next block. The ㄹ stays behind, so you hear "il-geo".

2.2 Nasalization — 비음화

A final sound ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ changes before ㄴ or ㅁ. ㄱ becomes ㅇ, ㄷ becomes ㄴ, and ㅂ becomes ㅁ. The sound moves through your nose.

감사합니다 → [감사함니다] → gam-sa-ham-ni-da
학년       → [항년]       → hang-nyeon
먹는       → [멍는]       → meong-neun
옛날       → [옌날]       → yen-nal

In 합니다, ㅂ meets ㄴ, so it turns into ㅁ. That is why "hap-ni-da" is really "ham-ni-da".

2.3 ㅎ sounds — 격음화

ㅎ next to ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ or ㅈ blends into one strong sound. The pairs become ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ and ㅊ. This works in both orders.

좋다   → [조타]   → jo-ta
축하해요 → [추카해요] → chu-ka-hae-yo
입학   → [이팍]   → i-pak
백화점 → [배콰점] → bae-kwa-jeom

ㅎ also goes quiet between vowels and after ㄴ, ㄹ, ㅁ or ㅇ. So 좋아요 is "jo-a-yo", with no "h". In 전화 the sound is [저놔], but the romanization is jeon-hwa.

2.4 Tensing — 경음화

After a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ sound, the next ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ or ㅈ becomes tense. You say it harder, with no puff of air.

학교 → [학꾜]  → hak-gyo
식당 → [식땅]  → sik-dang

This site does not show tensing in romanization. It follows the official Korean system, so you write hak-gyo and sik-dang. You only need to remember to say these sounds tense.

2.5 Palatalization — 구개음화

A final ㄷ or ㅌ before the vowel ㅣ changes. ㄷ becomes ㅈ, and ㅌ becomes ㅊ. This mostly happens when 이 is a suffix, not inside a word.

같이 → [가치] → ga-chi
굳이 → [구지] → gu-ji

The ㅌ of 같 moves over by linking, then meets ㅣ and turns into ㅊ. So you never say "gat-i".

2.6 The ㄹ rules

When ㄴ and ㄹ meet, both become ㄹ. It does not matter which one comes first.

신라 → [실라] → sil-la
설날 → [설랄] → seol-lal

In 신라, ㄴ is followed by ㄹ, so ㄴ turns into ㄹ. In 설날, ㄴ comes second and also turns into ㄹ.

Here are the six rules at a glance.