Why Korean is not read letter by letter
Korean spelling keeps the original form of each word part, while speech smooths the joins between syllables. Learning these 8 rules explains almost every "it doesn't sound like it's written" moment for beginners.
Which rules to learn first
- Linking and 7 final sounds: you need them from day one.
- Nasalization: you use it every time you say -습니다 or -ㅂ니다.
- The others come naturally as you meet more words.
Don't memorize the names. Listen, repeat, and check new words with the checker above.
Based on the Standard Pronunciation rules (표준 발음법) of the National Institute of Korean Language.
FAQ
Do Koreans always follow these rules?
Yes in natural speech. When speaking very slowly or spelling a word out, people may say each syllable separately.
Why does the checker show a different result from a dictionary?
A few words need dictionary information, such as the extra ㄴ sound in some compound words. Check the Standard Korean Dictionary (stdict.korean.go.kr) for the official pronunciation.