You can begin without knowing a Korean word

Hangul is the writing system used for Korean. You do not need to memorise a different symbol for every word: you learn letters, then combine them into syllable blocks. This first lesson introduces the fourteen basic consonant letters. The next lesson covers the ten basic vowel letters.

For now, aim to recognise the shapes and connect each one with a sound you have heard. Learning every pronunciation rule or every letter name in one sitting is unnecessary. A page of familiar-looking letters becomes useful only when you can recognise them in a different order.

The basic set has 24 letters: 14 consonants and 10 vowels. You will later meet five tense consonant letters and additional vowel combinations. “Twenty-four basic letters” does not mean that every modern Hangul letter you encounter is in this first set.

The fourteen letters in their usual order

The sound reminders are deliberately approximate. They are not fourteen exact English equivalents. In particular, ㄱ is one Korean letter, not a choice between two English letters that you make at random.

A letter name is different from its sound inside a word. ㄴ is called 니은, but you do not say the whole name 니은 every time ㄴ appears in a syllable. The English letter B is named “bee,” yet “bee” is not how you read B inside “bat.” The same distinction helps here.

The letter-name column plays the name, such as 기역. The last column plays a practice syllable, such as 가. Listen to consonants inside syllables rather than treating them as exact English sounds. On a narrow screen, swipe across the chart to see every column.

Begin with small groups of shapes

Start with ㄱ, ㄴ, and ㄷ. Copy each once while looking; then cover the examples and draw the letter you remember. Check the direction of the corner. A rotated letter is a different shape, not simply a stylistic variation.

Next add ㅁ, ㅂ, and ㅅ. Notice the closed box in ㅁ, the internal division in ㅂ, and the open shape of ㅅ. Then add ㅇ, ㄹ, ㅈ, and ㅎ. In a different font, stroke thickness and small details may change, but the basic arrangement should remain recognisable.

Finally compare ㄱ/ㅋ, ㄷ/ㅌ, ㅂ/ㅍ, and ㅈ/ㅊ. These pairs will help when you begin hearing the contrast between plain and aspirated consonants. Do not assume every extra line in Hangul always has the same sound effect.

Learn a sound with a vowel, not by adding “uh”

Consonants are easiest to hear inside syllables. In the following practice row, ㅏ is a vowel with the romanization label a: 가, 나, 다, 라, 마, 바, 사, 아, 자, 차, 카, 타, 파, 하. Do not try to memorise this entire row before you have studied the vowel lesson. Use it to notice how the same vowel stays on the right while the initial consonant changes.

Listen to a recorded syllable, pause, and repeat that syllable. Avoid saying an extra “uh” after every consonant. This habit can make one Korean syllable sound like two when you later read words with final consonants.

ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, and ㅊ are aspirated: air is released more strongly than in their plain counterparts in a comparable position. Airflow is only part of the distinction; timing and pitch also matter. A hand in front of your mouth can make you notice air, but it is not a complete pronunciation test. Use the recordings linked below.

Pay special attention to ㅇ and ㄹ

At the beginning of a syllable, ㅇ is silent. In 아, it occupies the initial slot while the vowel supplies the sound. At the bottom of a syllable, ㅇ represents an ng sound, as in 강. You will study that bottom position, called 받침, after you can build simple blocks.

ㄹ does not match every English r or l. A short tap occurs in many positions between vowels, while an l-like sound occurs in a final position. Do not force an English “r” into every word containing ㄹ. Learn the sound in a whole example word with a recording.

For ㄱ, ㄷ, and ㅂ, the surroundings also affect what you hear. A beginner chart gives you an entry point, not a promise that a consonant has one unchanging sound in every position. It is normal for the same spelling to sound different as you learn connected speech.

Check recognition before adding more letters

For a short second round, write ㄱ, ㅁ, ㄴ, ㅇ, and ㄷ on separate slips. Shuffle them, choose one, and find it in the chart. If you confuse a pair, practise those two together rather than recopying the whole alphabet. Move to the vowels when you can recognise most of the shapes; perfect speed can come later.

A small listening check

Listening and reference

The examples and practice tasks in this guide were written for Korean With a Local. For reference and further study:

• National Institute of Korean Language: Korean language norms — The official basic alphabet and letter names are in the spelling rules, Article 4; the page is in Korean.
• How to Study Korean: basic letters — Recorded consonants and syllables to accompany your reading.
• National Institute of Korean Language: romanization — Transcription conventions, which are distinct from English pronunciation instructions.

Reviewed September 3, 2026. Found a mistake? Send a correction.