Category: Learn Korean

⚠️ Common Beginner Mistakes

• Saying 육월 instead

  

  If you’ve ever wanted to make plans, read a schedule, or simply understand what day it is in Korea, then mastering Korean days of the week, months, and dates is one of the most immediately useful things you can learn — and this complete guide explains every single piece from absolute scratch. You don’t need to know a single word of Korean right now. By the time you finish reading, you will be able to say today’s date, name every day of the week, and count through all twelve months — all in Korean.

  Here is the most exciting secret about Korean days and months: they are built on a brilliantly logical system rooted in the five natural elements — sun, moon, fire, water, wood, metal, and earth. Once you see the pattern, you will never have to memorize blindly again. The days of the week each carry the name of a natural element, and the months are simply numbered — January is literally “month one,” February is “month two,” and so on. Korean is refreshingly logical in this way.

  Before we dive in, a quick note on how this guide works. Every Korean word you see will follow this format: the Korean script (called Hangul), the romanization to help you read it, a simple English-style phonetic guide using only English sounds, and the translation. Think of the phonetic guide as your training wheels — it tells you exactly how to say the word using sounds you already know from English. Let’s begin.

  The Korean Days of the Week — Built on Nature’s Elements

  Korean days of the week each end with the word 요일 (yoil) [YO-il] — “day of the week.” Think of 요일 as the Korean equivalent of adding “-day” in English (like Monday, Tuesday). Each day is named after a natural element borrowed from ancient Chinese philosophy. Sunday is the Sun’s day, Monday is the Moon’s day — sound familiar? The parallel with English is remarkable, and it will help you remember them instantly.

  Korean (한글)	Romanization	English Sound [phonetic]	English Meaning
  일요일	iryoil	[EEL-yo-il]	“Sunday” (Sun’s day — 일 means sun)
  월요일	woryoil	[WOL-yo-il]	“Monday” (Moon’s day — 월 means moon)
  화요일	hwayoil	[HWA-yo-il]	“Tuesday” (Fire’s day — 화 means fire)
  수요일	suyoil	[SOO-yo-il]	“Wednesday” (Water’s day — 수 means water)
  목요일	mogyoil	[MOK-yo-il]	“Thursday” (Wood’s day — 목 means wood)
  금요일	geumyoil	[KEUM-yo-il]	“Friday” (Metal/Gold’s day — 금 means gold)
  토요일	toyoil	[TOH-yo-il]	“Saturday” (Earth’s day — 토 means earth)

  💡 Teacher’s Tip

  Try memorizing the elements in order: Sun → Moon → Fire → Water → Wood → Metal → Earth. Say them like a little chant: “il-wol-hwa-su-mok-geum-to.” It’s only seven syllable-roots, and once you know them, you automatically know all seven days. Many of my students memorize all seven days in under ten minutes using this trick. You can too.

  Korean Months of the Year — The Beautifully Simple Number System

  Here is where Korean becomes wonderfully easy for beginners. Unlike English — where you have to memorize completely unrelated words like January, February, March — Korean months are simply numbers followed by the word 월 (wol) [WOL] — “month.” January is literally “1-month,” February is “2-month,” and so on all the way to December, “12-month.” If you can count to twelve in Korean (using Sino-Korean numbers), you already know all twelve months.

  Korean (한글)	Romanization	English Sound [phonetic]	English Meaning
  일월	irwol	[EEL-wol]	“January” (1st month)
  이월	iwol	[EE-wol]	“February” (2nd month)
  삼월	samwol	[SAM-wol]	“March” (3rd month)
  사월	sawol	[SAH-wol]	“April” (4th month)
  오월	owol	[OH-wol]	“May” (5th month)
  유월	yuwol	[YOO-wol]	“June” (6th month — note: 육 becomes 유 here)
  칠월	chirwol	[CHEEL-wol]	“July” (7th month)
  팔월	parwol	[PAL-wol]	“August” (8th month)
  구월	guwol	[GOO-wol]	“September” (9th month)
  시월	siwol	[SHEE-wol]	“October” (10th month — note: 십 becomes 시 here)
  십일월	sibirwol	[SHEEB-il-wol]	“November” (11th month)
  십이월	sibiwol	[SHEEB-ee-wol]	“December” (12th month)

  ⚠️ Common Beginner Mistakes

  • Saying 육월 instead

  2026-04-10

• Korean Numbers — How to Count in Korean (Native vs Sino)

  

  If you’ve ever wondered how to count in Korean, you’re about to discover something genuinely surprising — Korean Numbers: How to Count in Korean (Native vs Sino) is not just one system, it’s two. That’s right: Korean has two completely separate sets of numbers, each used in different everyday situations. Don’t let that scare you. By the end of this lesson, you’ll understand both systems clearly, know exactly when to use each one, and be able to count confidently in real Korean conversations.

  Think of it this way: in English, you sometimes say “a dozen” instead of “twelve,” or “a couple” instead of “two.” Korean simply takes this idea further by having an entire parallel system for different contexts. Native Korean numbers (순우리말 숫자, soon-oorimal sootja) are the original homegrown numbers that Koreans have used for thousands of years. Sino-Korean numbers (한자 숫자, hanja sootja) came from Chinese and are used in different, equally important situations. Once you know which system fits which situation, the whole puzzle clicks into place.

  This lesson starts from absolute zero — no Korean knowledge required whatsoever. Every word is explained with its Korean writing, pronunciation, and an English sound guide so you can say it correctly from your very first read. Let’s count our way into Korean together.

  The Korean Alphabet — A 60-Second Orientation

  Before we dive into numbers, you need to know one thing: Korean is written in an alphabet called 한글 (hangeul) [HAN-gool] — “the Korean alphabet.” Unlike Chinese, Korean is not made of thousands of picture-symbols. It has just 24 letters arranged into neat syllable blocks. The number one in Native Korean is written 하나 — two syllable blocks, totally readable once you learn the basics. For now, every Korean word in this lesson includes a pronunciation guide in English sounds, so you can start speaking immediately even before you study the alphabet.

  Native Korean Numbers (순우리말) — 1 to 10

  Native Korean numbers are used for counting objects, people, and age in everyday speech. When a Korean person says “I’m twenty-three years old” in casual conversation, or orders “two coffees,” they almost always use Native Korean numbers. These are the numbers that feel most natural and warm in spoken Korean. Let’s meet them right now.

  Number	Korean (한글)	Romanization	English Sound [phonetic]	English Meaning
  1	하나	hana	[HA-na]	“one”
  2	둘	dul	[DOOL]	“two”
  3	셋	set	[SET]	“three”
  4	넷	net	[NET]	“four”
  5	다섯	daseot	[DA-sut]	“five”
  6	여섯	yeoseot	[YUH-sut]	“six”
  7	일곱	ilgop	[IL-gop]	“seven”
  8	여덟	yeodeol	[YUH-dul]	“eight”
  9	아홉	ahop	[AH-hop]	“nine”
  10	열	yeol	[YUHL]	“ten”

  A quick note on pronunciation: the ㅎ sound (like in 하나) is exactly like the English “h” in “hello.” The ㄷ sound (like in 둘) is softer than the English “d” — imagine saying “d” without quite pressing your tongue as hard. Korean consonants are generally softer and less forceful than their English equivalents, which actually makes Korean easier on your mouth once you get used to it.

  💡 Teacher’s Tip

  Here’s a memory trick my students love: Native Korean numbers 1–4 follow a rhyming pattern — 하나 (HA-na), 둘 (DOOL), 셋 (SET), 넷 (NET). Notice how 셋 and 넷 rhyme? And 하나 sounds a little like “hana” — as in the Japanese word for “one” used in many martial arts classes. If you’ve ever counted in a karate or taekwondo class, you may already half-know these! Repeat them out loud ten times while tapping your fingers: 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷, 다섯, 여섯, 일곱, 여덟, 아홉, 열. That physical rhythm is how Korean children learn them — and it works just as well for you.

  Sino-Korean Numbers (한자어) — 1 to 10

  Sino-Korean numbers come from Chinese (한자, hanja [HAN-ja] — “Chinese characters”) and are used for money, phone numbers, dates, minutes, and large quantities. If you want to say it’s 3 o’clock, ask for the price of something, or give your phone number, Sino-Korean is your system. The good news? These numbers are much shorter and snappier than Native Korean numbers, and some of them will sound surprisingly familiar if you’ve heard any East Asian languages before.

  Number	Korean (한글)	Romanization	English Sound [phonetic]	English Meaning
  1	일	il	[IL]	“one”
  2	이	i	[EE]	“two”
  3	삼	sam	[SAM]	“three”
  4	사	sa	[SA]	“four”
  5	오	o	[OH]	“five”
  6	육	yuk	[YOOK]	“six”
  7	2026-04-10 Top 50 Korean Phrases Every Beginner Must Know The Top 50 Korean Phrases Every Beginner Must Know is your perfect starting point — a handpicked collection of real, everyday expressions that native Korean speakers use from the moment they wake up to the moment they go to sleep. If you have never seen a single Korean word before, do not worry. You are in exactly the right place, and by the end of this lesson, you will be able to greet people, express yourself, ask for help, and hold simple conversations entirely in Korean. That is not a small thing — that is genuinely exciting. Korean might look intimidating at first glance — those beautiful circular and angular characters can seem like a secret code. But here is the truth that every one of my students discovers within the first week: the Korean alphabet, called 한글 (Hangeul) [HAN-gul], is one of the most logical writing systems ever created. It was designed in the 15th century specifically to be easy to learn. Each symbol represents a sound, and once you know those sounds, you can read every word in this guide out loud. For now, every Korean phrase below includes an English phonetic guide in brackets — exactly how an English speaker would say it. There is one big grammar difference between English and Korean that you need to know before we dive in: Korean puts the verb at the very end of the sentence. In English, you say “I love you.” In Korean, the order becomes “I you love.” Do not panic — you will see this pattern clearly in the examples below, and it becomes very natural very quickly. Let us start building your Korean phrase library right now. Section 1 — Greetings: The First Words Every Beginner Needs Every Korean conversation starts with a greeting, so these are the most important beginner Korean phrases you will ever learn. The most essential word is 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) [ahn-NYUNG-ha-seh-yo] — “Hello / How are you?” — and it is used for virtually every polite first contact, whether you are meeting someone for the first time, walking into a shop, or answering the phone. The syllable ahn sounds like the “on” in “bond,” and NYUNG rhymes with “lung.” Practice saying it three times in a row and it will stick instantly. For a more casual hello with friends, use 안녕 (annyeong) [ahn-NYUNG] — “Hi / Bye (informal).” Yes — the same word covers both hello and goodbye among close friends, just like “ciao” in Italian. Korean (한글) Romanization English Sound [phonetic] English Meaning 안녕하세요 annyeonghaseyo [ahn-NYUNG-ha-seh-yo] “Hello / How are you?” (formal) 안녕 annyeong [ahn-NYUNG] “Hi / Bye” (casual) 반갑습니다 bangapseumnida [bahn-GAP-seum-nee-dah] “Nice to meet you” 잘 지냈어요? jal jinaesseoyo? [jahl jee-NAYS-suh-yo] “How have you been?” 오랜만이에요 oraenmanieyo [oh-REN-mah-nee-eh-yo] “Long time no see” 잘 지내요 jal jinaeyo [jahl jee-NAY-yo] “I’m doing well” 💡 Teacher’s Tip Think of 안녕하세요 as three mini-words glued together: “annyeong” (peace) + “ha” (do) + “seyo” (please). You are literally saying “Please be at peace!” — which is a beautiful way to greet someone. Remembering the meaning behind the words is one of the fastest memory tricks I give every new student. It turns a random string of sounds into something genuinely meaningful. Section 2 — Polite Essentials: Thank You, Sorry & Please Korean culture places enormous value on respect and politeness, so these essential Korean phrases will serve you in almost every situation you encounter. The word for “thank you” comes in two power levels. Use 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) [gahm-SAH-ham-nee-dah] — “Thank you (formal/respectful)” — when speaking to elders, strangers, or in professional settings. The ㄱ sound at the start is like the “g” in “gap,” but softer — never hard like a “k.” For everyday thanks with peers, 고마워요 (gomawoyo) [go-MAH-wuh-yo] — “Thank you (casual polite)” — works perfectly. To apologize, 죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) [jweh-SONG-ham-nee-dah] — “I’m very sorry (formal)” — is the sincere, respectful form, while 미안해요 (mianhaeyo) [mee-AHN-hay-yo] — “Sorry (casual)” — is what you would say to a friend. Korean (한글) Romanization English Sound [phonetic] English Meaning 감사합니다 gamsahamnida [gahm-SAH-ham-nee-dah] “Thank you” (formal) 고마워요 gomawoyo [go-MAH-wuh-yo] “Thank you” (casual polite) 죄송합니다 joesonghamnida [jweh-SONG-ham-nee-dah] “I’m very sorry” (formal) 미안해요 mianhaeyo [mee-AHN-hay-yo] “Sorry” (casual) 괜찮아요 gwaenchanayo [gwen-CHAH-nah-yo] “It’s okay / No problem” 부탁드립니다 butakdeurimnida [boo-TAHK-deu-reem-nee-dah] “Please / I humbly request” Section 3 — Everyday Survival Phrases for Absolute Beginners These are the Korean phrases that will genuinely save you — in a restaurant, on the street, at a convenience store, or in any moment where you need to communicate fast. 2026-04-09 How to Introduce Yourself in Korean — Beginner’s Script Learning how to introduce yourself in Korean — Beginner’s Script style — is the single most powerful first step you can take on your Korean language journey. Imagine meeting a Korean friend, watching your favorite K-drama, or landing in Seoul for the first time and being able to say, with confidence, exactly who you are. That moment is closer than you think — and it starts right here, right now, with just a handful of phrases that any complete beginner can master today. Here is the wonderful truth about Korean: it is not as intimidating as it looks. Yes, the alphabet — called 한글 (hangeul) [HAN-geul] — “the Korean alphabet” — looks completely foreign at first glance. But Hangeul was specifically designed in the 15th century to be easy to learn. Most people can read it phonetically within a single weekend. For now, we will show you every Korean word in both its Korean script and its English phonetic sound, so you can follow along from your very first minute. In this beginner’s script, you will learn everything you need to introduce yourself in Korean — your name, your nationality, your age, and a polite greeting to tie it all together. By the end of this lesson, you will have a complete, natural-sounding self-introduction that you can use in the real world. Let’s begin — 시작합시다 (sijakahpsida) [shi-JAK-hap-shi-da] — “Let’s start!” Step 1 — Say Hello First: The Korean Greeting Every great self-introduction in Korean begins with a greeting. The most important and universally used greeting in Korean is 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) [ahn-NYUNG-ha-seh-yo] — “Hello / How are you?” This is your formal, polite greeting — safe to use with anyone: strangers, teachers, elders, and new friends. The word 안녕 (annyeong) [AHN-nyung] on its own means “peace” or “well-being,” and the 하세요 (haseyo) [ha-SEH-yo] part is a polite ending that makes the whole phrase respectful. Think of it like the difference between “hey” and “good day, sir” — 안녕하세요 is your polished, always-correct greeting. When you say it, bow your head slightly — Koreans deeply appreciate this cultural touch. Step 2 — Say Your Name in Korean After your greeting, the very next thing in any Korean self-introduction is your name. The phrase you need is: 저는 [name]이에요 / 예요 (jeoneun [name] ieyo / yeyo) [JUH-neun … ee-EH-yo / YEH-yo] — “I am [name].” Let’s break this down piece by piece. 저는 (jeoneun) [JUH-neun] means “I” — but it is the polite, humble form of “I,” which is the one you always want to use when meeting someone new. The ending 이에요 (ieyo) [ee-EH-yo] is used when your name ends in a consonant (like “Jack” → 잭이에요), and 예요 (yeyo) [YEH-yo] is used when your name ends in a vowel sound (like “Amy” → 에이미예요). If this rule feels tricky right now, don’t worry — just use 이에요 and Koreans will absolutely understand you. Step 3 — Tell Them Where You’re From Koreans are genuinely curious about where you come from, so your nationality is a key part of your beginner’s self-introduction script. The sentence pattern is: 저는 [country]에서 왔어요 (jeoneun [country]eseo wasseoyo) [JUH-neun … EH-suh WAH-ssuh-yo] — “I came from [country].” The particle 에서 (eseo) [EH-suh] means “from” — think of it as a little label you stick onto a place name to show where something came from. The verb 왔어요 (wasseoyo) [WAH-ssuh-yo] means “came.” Notice how the verb sits at the very end of the sentence — this is one of the most fundamental rules of Korean grammar, and we will explore it in detail shortly. Here are some common country names to plug into your script: Korean (한글) Romanization English Sound [phonetic] English Meaning 미국 miguk [MI-gook] “United States / America” 영국 yeongguk [YUNG-gook] “United Kingdom / England” 캐나다 kaenada [KAY-na-da] “Canada” 호주 hoju [HO-joo] “Australia” 프랑스 peurangseu [puh-RANG-seu] “France” 한국 hanguk [HAN-gook] “Korea / South Korea” Step 4 — Share Your Age (Optional but Common!) In Korean culture, age is shared openly and often early in conversation — it helps determine the appropriate level of formality to use with each other. To say your age, use: 저는 [number]살이에요 (jeoneun [number] sarieyo) [JUH-neun … SAL-ee-EH-yo] — “I am [number] years old.” The word 살 (sal) [sal] means “years old.” So if you are 25, you would say 저는 스물다섯 살이에요 (jeoneun seumul daseot sarieyo) [JUH-neun SEU-mul DA-suht SAL-ee-EH-yo] — “I am 25 years old.” Korean actually has two number systems, which can be confusing for beginners — but the important thing to know right now is that for ages, Koreans use the native Korean number system. Do not let this stop you — simply tell people your age using the number and Koreans will graciously help fill in the rest. Step 5 — The Grammar Secret: Why Korean Verbs Go Last Here is the single most important grammar concept for your Korean self-introduction — and for all of Korean, really. In English, we build sentences as Subject → Verb → Object (SVO). In Korean, the structure is Subject → Object → Verb (SOV). This means the verb — the action word — always lands at the very end of the sentence. At first this feels like reading a sentence backwards, but once it clicks, it becomes completely natural. Every sentence you have learned in this beginner’s script follows this rule. The table below makes this crystal clear: 🔀 English vs Korean — How Sentences Work Differently 2026-04-09 Korean Greetings Guide — 20 Ways to Say Hello and Goodbye 💡 Teacher’s Tip Welcome to your very first step in learning Korean — this Korean Greetings Guide: 20 Ways to Say Hello and Goodbye is the perfect place to start, even if you have never seen a single Korean word in your life. Korean greetings are not just words — they carry respect, warmth, and cultural meaning that will instantly endear you to any Korean person you meet. The good news? Many of these phrases are short, rhythmic, and surprisingly easy to memorize once you hear them a few times. Before we dive in, let me reassure you: you do not need to know how to read Korean (called 한글 — Hangul [HAHN-gool] — “the Korean alphabet”) to start speaking right now. Every single phrase in this guide comes with a phonetic pronunciation written in plain English sounds — the kind you already know. Think of it like learning to sing a song before you can read sheet music. You will be saying real Korean greetings by the end of this article, I promise. One important thing to understand from the very beginning: Korean is a language that takes social relationships seriously. There are formal ways to greet your boss or an elder, and casual ways to greet your best friend. This guide will always tell you who each greeting is appropriate for, so you never accidentally sound rude — or overly stiff. Let’s begin! The Most Important Korean Hello — Start Here The single most important Korean greeting you will ever learn is 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) [ahn-NYUNG-ha-seh-yo] — “Hello / How are you?” This is your all-purpose, safe-for-everyone, use-it-anywhere greeting. Say it to a shopkeeper, a teacher, a new colleague, or anyone you meet for the first time. The word 안녕 (annyeong) [AHN-nyung] — “peace / well-being” is the root, and the -haseyo ending makes it polite. Think of the “nyung” sound like “young” but starting with “n” — ahn-NYUNG. Practice it ten times right now and you are already ahead of most beginners. For very formal situations — meeting someone’s parents, entering a business meeting, or greeting an elder for the first time — you will want to use 안녕하십니까 (annyeonghasimnikka) [ahn-NYUNG-ha-shim-NEE-kka] — “Hello (formal/respectful).” This sounds more serious and deliberate. The double “kk” at the end is a slightly tense sound, almost like saying “k” with a tiny extra push of air. Koreans use this in professional and official settings. Casual Korean Greetings — For Friends and Peers Once you are friends with someone your own age — or someone who tells you it is okay to speak casually — you can relax your Korean significantly. The casual hello is simply 안녕 (annyeong) [AHN-nyung] — “Hey / Hi.” Yes, the same root word, just on its own! It is the Korean equivalent of dropping “how are you” and just saying “hey.” Use this only with close friends, younger people, or children. Using it with an elder or boss would feel abrupt and disrespectful. Another casual phrase you will hear constantly in Korean dramas and everyday life is 야 (ya) [YAH] — “Hey! (casual exclamation to a close friend).” Think of it like calling out “Yo!” to a buddy. It is very informal and used only between close friends. Similarly, 어이 (eoi) [UH-ee] — “Hey there (informal)” is used in the same relaxed way. These short exclamations are packed with personality and friendship — but always read the room before using them. How to Say Goodbye in Korean — 4 Essential Farewells Here is something that surprises almost every beginner: in Korean, the way you say goodbye changes depending on who is leaving. If you are the one leaving, you say something different than if the other person is leaving. It sounds complicated, but it makes beautiful sense once you see it. The person staying “sends off” the person leaving, and the person leaving “asks permission” to go. Let’s look at both. When you are leaving and the other person is staying, say: 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) [ahn-NYUNG-hee gyeh-seh-yo] — “Goodbye (stay in peace — said by the person leaving).” The word 계세요 (gyeseyo) [GYEH-seh-yo] means “please stay,” so you are literally wishing them peaceful rest as you go. When the other person is leaving and you are staying, say: 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) [ahn-NYUNG-hee gah-seh-yo] — “Goodbye (go in peace — said by the person staying).” Here 가세요 (gaseyo) [GAH-seh-yo] means “please go,” wishing them a safe journey. This distinction is one of the most beautiful cultural details in the Korean language. Korean (한글) Romanization English Sound [phonetic] English Meaning 안녕하세요 annyeonghaseyo [ahn-NYUNG-ha-seh-yo] “Hello / How are you?” (polite) 안녕하십니까 annyeonghasimnikka [ahn-NYUNG-ha-shim-NEE-kka] “Hello” (formal/official) 안녕 annyeong [AHN-nyung] “Hi / Hey” (casual, friends only) 안녕히 계세요 annyeonghi gyeseyo [ahn-NYUNG-hee GYEH-seh-yo] “Goodbye” (you are leaving) 안녕히 가세요 annyeonghi gaseyo [ahn-NYUNG-hee GAH-seh-yo] “Goodbye” (they are leaving) 잘 가 jal ga [JAHL gah] “Go well / Take care” (casual) 💡 Teacher’s Tip 2026-04-09 Korean Alphabet Song — Learn 가나다라마바사 Like a Native Child The Korean Alphabet Song — Learn 가나다라마바사 Like a Native Child is exactly where every Korean learner should begin — and the good news is that you are about to discover it is far more manageable than it looks. If you have never seen a single Korean letter in your life, take a deep breath: Korean children learn this alphabet song before they can even write their names, and the melody, the rhythm, and the logic behind it are all designed to make memorization feel effortless and even joyful. The Korean writing system is called 한글 (hangeul) [HAN-gul] — “the Korean alphabet,” and unlike Chinese or Japanese, it was intentionally designed to be easy to learn. King Sejong the Great created it in 1443 specifically so that ordinary people could read and write. Linguists today call it one of the most scientifically elegant writing systems ever invented. You are not just learning letters — you are stepping into a 600-year-old gift to the Korean people, and now to you. In this lesson, you will learn the 가나다라마바사 alphabet song — the Korean equivalent of singing “A-B-C-D-E-F-G.” By the time you finish reading, you will be able to recite the first fourteen consonants in order, understand how each one sounds, and sing along with Korean children like you have always known these letters. Let’s begin right now. What Is the Korean Alphabet Song (가나다 Song)? Korean children learn their alphabet through a cheerful song called the 가나다 노래 (gana-da norae) [GA-na-da NO-reh] — “the ABC song of Korean.” Just like English-speaking children sing “A-B-C-D-E-F-G” to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Korean children sing 가나다라마바사 (ga-na-da-ra-ma-ba-sa) [GA-na-DA-ra-MA-ba-SA] to a simple, catchy melody. The song covers all fourteen basic consonants of 한글, making it the single fastest way to internalize the Korean alphabet order. Think of it as your first Korean superpower — once the rhythm is in your head, the letters follow automatically. The 14 Basic Korean Consonants — Your 가나다라마바사 Roadmap Korean consonants are called 자음 (jaeum) [JA-um] — “consonants,” and there are fourteen of them in the basic alphabet. Each one has a name — just like in English, where “B” is called “bee” and “C” is called “see.” The name of each Korean consonant contains the sound of the letter itself, which makes the 가나다라마바사 song both a recitation of the names and a pronunciation guide at the same time. That is the genius of it. Here is your complete roadmap through all fourteen: Korean (한글) Letter Name (Romanization) English Sound [Phonetic] Sound It Makes ㄱ 기역 (giyeok) [GEE-yuk] “g” as in “go” (softer) ㄴ 니은 (nieun) [NEE-un] “n” as in “no” ㄷ 디귿 (digeut) [DEE-geut] “d” as in “door” (softer) ㄹ 리을 (rieul) [REE-ul] between “r” and “l” ㅁ 미음 (mieum) [MEE-um] “m” as in “mom” ㅂ 비읍 (bieup) [BEE-up] “b” as in “bus” (softer) ㅅ 시옷 (siot) [SHEE-ot] “s” as in “sun” ㅇ 이응 (ieung) [EE-ung] silent at start; “ng” at end ㅈ 지읒 (jieut) [JEE-ut] “j” as in “jump” ㅊ 치읓 (chieut) [CHEE-ut] “ch” as in “chair” ㅋ 키읔 (kieuk) [KEE-uk] “k” as in “kite” (aspirated) ㅌ 티읕 (tieut) [TEE-ut] “t” as in “top” (aspirated) ㅍ 피읖 (pieup) [PEE-up] “p” as in “park” (aspirated) ㅎ 히읗 (hieut) [HEE-ut] “h” as in “hello” How to Sing 가나다라마바사 — The Exact Rhythm The 가나다 song is sung in a simple four-beat rhythm that Korean children clap along to. Here is how the first line breaks down — say each syllable with equal emphasis, almost like a march: Song Line Romanization English Sound [Phonetic] Letters Covered 가 나 다 라 ga na da ra [GA · NA · DA · RA] ㄱ ㄴ ㄷ ㄹ 마 바 사 ma ba sa [MA · BA · SA] ㅁ ㅂ ㅅ 아 자 차 카 a ja cha ka [AH · JA · CHA · KA] 2026-04-09 How to Write Your Name in Korean — Hangul Transliteration Guide Learning how to write your name in Korean — Hangul transliteration — is honestly one of the most exciting moments in any beginner’s Korean journey, and this complete guide is going to walk you through every single step from absolute zero. You don’t need to know anything about Korean yet. You’ve never seen the Korean alphabet before? Perfect. By the time you finish this article, you’ll be able to look at your name and write it out in beautiful, authentic Korean characters — the exact same script that native Koreans use every single day. Korean uses its own unique alphabet called Hangul — 한글 (hangeul) [HAN-geul] — “the Korean alphabet.” Unlike Chinese or Japanese, Hangul is not made up of thousands of complicated symbols. It was actually invented in 1443 by King Sejong specifically to be easy to learn. There are only 24 basic letters — 14 consonants and 10 vowels — and they are grouped together into neat syllable blocks. Once you understand this system, writing your name in Korean becomes a fun puzzle rather than an impossible mystery. Here’s the key thing to understand right away: Korean transliteration means matching the sounds of your name to Korean letters — not the spelling. Korean doesn’t borrow English letters; it borrows English sounds. So the name “Michael” doesn’t become M-I-C-H-A-E-L in Korean — it becomes the Korean letters that create the sound “My-kul.” This sound-matching approach is what makes Hangul transliteration both logical and incredibly satisfying once it clicks. Step 1 — Understand How Hangul Syllable Blocks Work Before you can write your name in Korean, you need to understand one crucial concept: Korean letters never stand alone — they always stack together into syllable blocks. Think of each block as a little square that holds exactly one syllable. Every block must contain at least one consonant and one vowel. So the name “Sarah” has two syllables — “Sa” and “rah” — which means it would be written in two separate blocks side by side. Here is the basic block formula: a consonant sits on the left or top, and a vowel sits beside or below it. If a syllable ends in a consonant (called a batchim — 받침 (batchim) [BAT-chim] — “final consonant”), that consonant sits at the bottom of the block. So the syllable “Han” = ㅎ (h) + ㅏ (a) + ㄴ (n) stacked into one block: 한. That’s it. That’s the whole system. Step 2 — Learn the Korean Consonants You’ll Need Most For writing names in Korean, you don’t need to memorize all 14 consonants right away — just the ones that match the sounds in your name. Here are the most commonly needed consonants for Hangul transliteration of English names. Pay close attention to the phonetic comparisons, because some sounds are close to English but not identical. Korean Letter Romanization English Sound [phonetic] Closest English Sound ㄱ g / k [g] or [k] Like the “g” in “go” (softer than English “g”) ㄴ n [n] Exactly like the “n” in “name” ㄷ d / t [d] or [t] Like “d” in “dog” but lighter on the tongue ㄹ r / l [r] or [l] A blend between “r” and “l” — no perfect English match ㅁ m [m] Exactly like the “m” in “mom” ㅅ s [s] Like the “s” in “sea” — crisp and clean Step 3 — Learn the Korean Vowels for Name Sounds Korean vowels are remarkably straightforward compared to English vowels, which are notoriously inconsistent (think about how differently “a” sounds in “cat,” “cake,” and “car”). In Korean, each vowel always makes the same sound — every single time. This consistency is a gift for beginners. Here are the vowels you’ll use most when transliterating English names into Hangul. Korean Vowel Romanization English Sound [phonetic] Remember It Like This ㅏ a [AH] Like “a” in “father” — open your mouth wide ㅣ i [EE] Like “ee” in “feet” — long and clear ㅗ o [OH] Like “o” in “go” — round your lips ㅜ u [OO] Like “oo” in “moon” — lips forward ㅔ e [EH] Like “e” in “bed” — short and flat ㅐ ae [EH] Almost identical to ㅔ — beginners treat them the same 💡 Teacher’s Tip Here’s the trick that makes the consonant-vowel block system click instantly: think of each syllable block like a tiny Lego piece. A consonant is the base, a vowel snaps onto the side or below it, and an optional final consonant locks in at the bottom. Your name is just a row of these Lego pieces placed side by side. The name “Emma” = 에마 — two blocks, two Lego pieces, done. Once you see it this way, you’ll never forget how the system works. Step 4 — Real Name Examples in Hangul Transliteration Now let’s bring this all together with real names. Remember the golden rule of Hangul transliteration: you are matching sounds, not letters. Say your name out loud slowly, break it into syllables, and then match each syllable to Korean sounds. If your name ends in a consonant sound like “-n,” “-m,” or “-k,” that consonant becomes the batchim (final consonant) sitting at the bottom of the last block. Let’s look at some popular English names written in 2026-04-08 사업자등록번호: 409-21-63662  |  상호: 정도상회 We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok