Pronunciation Rules - Different than Expected Sounds

Question 1

1. When do Korean syllables ending in consonants lack “breath” sounds?
2. When do they have “breath” sounds?

Answer 1

1. When the next syllable starts with a consonant

2. When next syllable starts with vowel sound, using ㅇ to start

Question 2

Breath noise (yes/no)? Pronunciation?

먹다

Answer 2

No.

mohk-dah
no breath on k, sounds very quiet

Question 3

Breath noise (yes/no)? Pronunciation?

먹어

Answer 3

Yes.

moh-gah (2nd syllable starts with vowel, so k/g breath carries over

Question 4

먹어 VS 먹 + 어

Answer 4

moh-gah (connected vowel carries over breath noise)

mohk + ah

Question 5

Ending: ㅅ and ㅆ

1. When a word ends with ㅅ or ㅆ, or has a consonant following, what sound replaces the “s” noise?
   (ex: 었)
2. When a word ends with ㅅ or ㅆ, but a vowel starts the next syllable, what replaces the “s” noise?
   (ex: 했어)

Answer 5

1. ”s” is replaced by a “d” sound.
   Ex: 싯, 했, 겠, 었, 았, 짓
   (shid, hed, ked, ohd, ahd, chid)
2. Nothing. It stays the same.
   ex: 했어 (VS) 했 + 어)
   hessoh (VS) hed + oh

Question 6

Sound change: ㄹ

1. Final consonant of one syllable is ㄱ (k)
2. First consonant of next syllable is ㄹ (l/r)
3. The ㄹ (l/r) gets pronounced as _____?

ex: 복 + 리 (VS) 복리

Answer 6

3. ㄱ(k) followed by ㄹ(l/r), ㄹ is pronounced as ㄴ (n)
   ex: boh + li (VS) boh-ni

Remember ending consonant is silent except when followed by a vowel.

Question 7

Sound change: ㄹ

1. Final consonant of one syllable is ㅇ (-ng)
2. First consonant of next syllable is ㄹ (l/r)
3. The ㄹ (l/r) gets pronounced as _____?

ex: 상 + 록 (VS) 상록

Answer 7

3. ㅇ (-ng) followed by ㄹ (l/r), ㄹ is pronounced as ㄴ (n)
   ex: sahng + loh (VS) sahng-no

Remember ending consonant is silent except when followed by a vowel.

Question 8

Sound change: ㄴ

1. Final consonant of one syllable is ㄴ (n)
2. First consonant of next syllable is ㄹ (l/r)
3. The ㄴ (n) gets pronounces as _____?

ex: 원 + 래 (VS) 원래

Answer 8

3. ㄴ (n) followed by ㄹ (l/r), ㄴ is pronounced as ㄹ (l/r)

ex: wan + leh (VS) wal-leh

Question 9

Sound change: ㅂ

1. Final consonant of one syllable is ㅂ(b)
2. First consonant of next syllable is ㄴ (n)
3. The ㅂ(b) gets pronounced as _____?

ex: 습니다

Answer 9

3. ㅂ(b) followed by ㄴ (n), ㅂ(b) is pronounced as ㅁ(m)

ex: sim-ni-da
ㅂ(b) changes to ㅁ(m) instead of silent, otherwise it would be “sib-ni-da” with a silent b

Question 10

If a 4-letter syllable is present, usually one of the latter consonants is _______ when followed by a syllable starting with a consonant.

ex: 닭

Answer 10

silent

ex: t-ah-k (ㄹ [l/r] is silent)