Step 01 · Start reading
Hangul basics: read your first Korean syllables
Meet a small set of Korean letters, combine them into syllable blocks, and practise reading a few examples. No previous Korean is needed.
Hangul is an alphabet arranged into blocks
Hangul (also spelled Hangeul) is the writing system used for Korean. Its letters represent sounds. Instead of writing every letter separately in a straight line, you group the letters of a syllable into one block.
For example, 나 contains two letters: ㄴ and ㅏ. You read the finished block as one syllable, approximately na. A Korean word can contain one block or several blocks.
You will practise a few letters and the basic block shapes. This is an introduction—not the entire alphabet or all Korean pronunciation rules.
Start with these letters
Learn the shapes first. The English-letter hints below are only approximations; the exact sounds do not always match English.
| Letter | Starting hint | What to notice |
|---|---|---|
| ㄴ | n | One consonant letter, shaped like a corner. |
| ㅁ | m | A consonant with a closed square shape. |
| ㄱ | g/k | Its sound depends on its position and context; it is not always an English “g.” |
| ㅏ | a | A vowel with a short stroke pointing right. |
| ㅗ | o | A vowel with a short stroke pointing up. |
| ㅜ | u | A vowel with a short stroke pointing down. |
Compare ㅗ and ㅜ carefully. Moving the short stroke changes the vowel.
Combine a consonant and a vowel
A syllable begins with a consonant position and includes a vowel. The shape of the vowel determines how the letters fit.
A tall vowel goes beside the consonant
Put ㅏ to the right of the first consonant.
A wide vowel goes below the consonant
Put ㅗ or ㅜ below the first consonant.
These are reading examples. A block is a syllable; it does not have to be a complete word on its own.
What if a syllable starts with a vowel sound?
Korean still fills the first consonant position. It uses ㅇ, which is silent at the beginning of a syllable.
Do not add an “ng” sound at the start of these examples. At the bottom of a syllable, ㅇ represents an “ng” sound instead. Its position matters.
A final consonant fits at the bottom
Some syllables also have a consonant underneath the first consonant and vowel. This bottom position is called batchim (받침).
Read each block as one syllable. For 문, bring your tongue to the final n; do not add an extra vowel after it. Other final consonants have pronunciation rules that you can learn gradually.
Two beginner mix-ups to notice
| Easy to mix up | A more useful way to think |
|---|---|
| “Every block is a word.” | A block represents a syllable. 나무 is one word with two blocks. |
| “ㅇ always sounds like ng.” | It is silent in the initial position in 아, but has an “ng” sound at the bottom of 강. |
If you make either mistake, return to the shape and position of the letters. The reason for the answer is more useful than memorising the answer alone.
Try it, then check your answer
Which block is made from ㄴ + ㅏ?
Show the answer and explanation
나 is correct: ㄴ is the consonant and ㅏ is the vowel. 마 starts with a different consonant; 누 uses a different vowel.
Read these without the hints
나무 · 문 · 강
Check the reading and meaning
나무 = na-mu, “tree.” There are two blocks and two syllables. 문 = mun, “door.” 강 = gang, “river.” The final ㅇ in 강 has the “ng” sound.
Before moving on, point to the consonant and vowel in each example. If you can explain their positions, you have understood the main idea of this guide.
For additional alphabet explanations and recorded reading practice, see How to Study Korean: Unit 0. For individual word pronunciations, use the NIKL learner dictionary.
Your next small step
Your first Korean phrases: hello, thank you, and polite requests