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Hangul 101: A Super Easy Guide to the Korean Alphabet

Have you ever heard of Hangul? It’s the Korean writing system, also known as the Korean alphabet. If you’re interested in learning Korean, understanding Hangul is absolutely essential. Hangul was specifically designed to be easy to learn . So even if you’re a complete beginner, you can start learning Hangul right away.

In fact, learning Hangul is often the first step in learning Korean , and it can make a huge difference in your Korean learning journey. By the end of this article, you’ll understand what Hangul is, why it’s important for learning Korean, and how you can start mastering it today . So let’s dive in and explore the fascinating world of Hangul together!

Table of Contents

History of Hangul

Hangul was created by King Sejong the Great of Joseon in 1443. It was designed to be simple and easy to learn so that anyone who knows Hangul could look at a Korean word and pronounce it correctly.

After years of studying Hanja, or Chinese characters , King Sejong believed that they were too difficult for ordinary people to learn. So he wanted to create an alphabet that would be easier and more useful.

Unlike the Japanese writing system , the Korean alphabet Hangul was also created with its own unique sounds, separate from Chinese characters. This made it possible for Koreans to write down their own language without having to borrow words from another culture or language.

Today, Hangulis used in all aspects of modern Korean culture, from literature, music, and art to daily communication. Many of Korea’s most celebrated works of literature and poetry are written in Hangul. Korean popular music, or K-pop, also uses Hangul in song titles, lyrics, and artist names. Hangul is also a key part of Korean cuisine, as menus and food packaging are labeled with Hangul.

Let’s continue exploring the world of Hangul. In the next part, we will introduce you to the basic concepts of Hangul, and you’ll be on your way to learning this beautiful writing system!

Basic Concepts of Hangul

Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of the Korean alphabet Hangul. 

Hangul is made up of 14 basic consonants and 10 basic vowels. Each Korean character is made up of a consonant and a corresponding vowel. Sometimes, the vowels can also be written alone to form syllable blocks, the familiar cute square shapes.

• 10 vowel letters (ㅏ ㅑ ㅓ ㅕ ㅗ ㅛ ㅜ ㅠ ㅡ ㅣ)
• 14 consonant letters (ㄱ ㄴ ㄷ ㄹ ㅁ ㅂ ㅅ ㅇ ㅈ ㅊ ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅎ)

In the following part, I’ll show you how to write and pronounce Hangul. It’s quite easy because Hangul is a phonetic writing system, which means the way a word is spelled reflects how it’s pronounced. If you know the Hangul alphabet, you can read any Korean word, even if you don’t know what it means!

Korean vowels

So first, let’s take a look at the Hangul vowels .

How to pronounce 10 basic Korean vowels:

ㅏ (a) sounds like “ah”

ㅑ (ya) sounds like “ yah”

ㅓ (eo) sounds like “uh”

ㅕ (yeo) sounds like “yuh”

ㅗ (o) sounds like the “o” in “boat”

ㅛ (yo) sounds like “yo”

ㅜ (oo) sounds like the “u” in “sushi”

ㅠ (yoo) sounds like “you”

ㅡ (eu) sounds like the “oo” in “boot”

ㅣ (i) sounds like the “ee” in “cheese”

Korean consonants

How to pronounce Korean consonants:

ㄱ (g/k) sounds like the “g” in “go” or the “k” in “kite”

ㄴ (n) sounds like the “n” in “nice”

ㄷ (d/t) sounds like the “d” in “dad” or the “t” in “top”

ㄹ (l/r) sounds like a mix between the “l” and “r” sounds in English

ㅁ (m) sounds like the “m” in “mom”

ㅂ (b/p) sounds like the “b” in “baby” or the “p” in “pie”

ㅅ (s) sounds like the “s” in “sun”

ㅇ (ng) sounds like the “ng” in “song” or the “g” in “sing” (depending on where it’s used)

ㅈ (j/ch) sounds like the “j” in “jazz” or the “ch” in “cherry” ㅈ j/ch  

ㅊ (ch) sounds like the “ch” in “cheese”

ㅋ (k) sounds like the “k” in “kangaroo”

ㅌ (t) sounds like the “t” in “time”

ㅍ (p) sounds like the “p” in “panda”

ㅎ (h) sounds like the “h” in “happy”

Please keep in mind that this pronunciation guide does not show exactly how Koreans speak their language. There could be some subtle variations that can only be discerned by listening to native speakers or using a language learning tool that includes audio recordings by native speakers, such as LingoDeer .

Hangul Stroke Order

It’s best to learn the right stroke order of Hangul from the beginning. So when learning how to write Hangul, stroke order is a very important part.

This chart shows the correct stroke order of Hangul. Just remember a simple rule, start from the top left corner.

That’s it for the basics of Hangul! Trust me, with a little bit of practice, you’ll be reading and writing Korean in no time!

How to Read and Write Korean

Now you’ve known the basics of Korean alphabet Hangul, how to move forward to read and write in Korean? Don’t worry, here is a step-by-step guide you can follow to advance from 

• Start by learning to read and write the basic consonants and vowels. Pay attention to the strokes. Learn how to pronounce each syllable and what their strokes are like. You can check out the 14 consonants and 10 vowels in the previous section.

• Practice writing these syllable blocks repeatedly until you have memorized the shapes and can write them with ease.
• Gradually move on to more complex combinations of syllables, and practice writing simple words and sentences.

Remember, to achieve fluency in Korean, you also need to practice besides learning. The more you practice your Korean skills, the easier it will be for you to speak with ease.

Let’s start your first Hangul practice with LingoDeer app , a well-rounded language learning program that teaches you how to speak, write, and read in Korean in no time. With short, bite-sized lessons, you can practice your Korean skills on the go. Start learning Korean the easier way today!

Common Uses of Hangul

If you are still curious about the common uses of Hangul in modern Korean, the answer should be straightforward by now: Hangul is used in pretty much the same way as the 26 English letters. As mentioned before, Hangul is the Korean alphabet and forms the fundamental building blocks of any Korean character.

In modern-day Korea, Hangul is used on a daily basis. From official documents to street signs, from advertising to pop culture, you can see Hangul everywhere. It is also used in media such as newspapers, magazines, and books. Sometimes Hangul is also used in artistic creation .  Unlike the Japanese writing system, Hangul reduced the use of Hanja and thus played a significant role in promoting literacy in Korea.

Overall, Hangul is an essential part of the Korean language and culture, and its simplicity and accessibility have made it a crucial factor in promoting literacy and facilitating communication in Korea. Whether you are interested in Korean literature, media, or pop culture, learning Hangul is an excellent way to start your Korean learning journey or deepen your understanding and appreciation of Korean culture.

Tips for Learning Hangul

• Start with the Basics

Before delving into the intricacies of Hangul, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the basic characters and their sounds. Begin by learning the vowels and consonants, and their corresponding sounds.

• Practice Writing and Reading

Practice writing Hangul characters to familiarize yourself with the stroke order and structure. Start by writing simple words and phrases, then progress to more complex sentences. Reading Hangul text aloud can help you to master pronunciation and develop your listening skills.

• Utilize Online Resources

There are many online resources available to help you learn Hangul. Websites such as Talk To Me In Korean and How to Study Korean offer comprehensive lessons on Hangul, along with grammar and vocabulary lessons. Apps like LingoDeer , Duolingo, and Memrise offer interactive Hangul lessons and exercises that can help you improve your proficiency.

• Practice, Practice, Practice

The key to mastering Hangul is to practice consistently. Set aside a regular time each day to practice writing, reading, and speaking Hangul. Joining a language exchange program or finding a language partner can provide you with opportunities to practice speaking and listening skills with native speakers.

So, that’s it for our introduction to Hangul! Learning the Korean alphabet may seem daunting at first, but it’s a crucial step to mastering the Korean language. With some basic knowledge, practice, and the right resources, you’ll get there in no time!

If you’re looking for a fun and effective way to learn Hangul and Korean, download the LingoDeer app today and start your language learning journey! With structured lessons and game-like activities, you’ll be on your way to Korean fluency in no time. Happy learning!

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This has really been such a big help if you’re a beginner! Keep up the good work!!! 🥰

Hangul has letters, not characters. Stroke order means nothing in Hangul, all you need do is write the letter correctly. The Korean alphabet is the only easy part of the language; we learned it in about two hours one afternoon at the Defense Language Institute.

this was really helpful thanks but i’m still learning this hard language i just started

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To all the beginners “fighting” we got this 💜

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Your Ultimate Korean Pronunciation Guide

According to Dictionary.com, ‘pronunciation’ is: the act or result of producing the sounds of speech, including articulation, stress, and intonation, often with reference to some standard of correctness or acceptability.

Paying attention to your Korean pronunciation not your own essentially means you’re learning to ditch most of your foreign accent. This is very important if you want to be a successful communicator in any language. Getting Korean pronunciation right may seem like a daunting task at the onset, but it need not be!

Download Your FREE Guide to the Korean Alphabet!

If you want to master the Korean language and become fluent, you must learn the Korean alphabet letters first. And you need physical worksheets to practice on.

This eBook is a MUST-HAVE for all Korean learning beginners!

Download your FREE Korean practice sheets PDF today and learn the Korean language in no time! This is a must-have guide for absolute beginners

• Related Lessons

Table of Contents

• Introduction to Korean Pronunciation
• Why is Correct Pronunciation in Korean Important?
• Secrets to Learning the Correct Korean Pronunciation
• How to Download Your Free Korean eBook

1. Introduction to Korean Pronunciation

The Korean alphabet consists of twenty-four basic characters: fourteen consonants and ten vowels. These basic syllables can form more compound consonants and vowels, and we can divide them into independent syllables that we recognize as “letters” in Korean.

We’re not going to go over the pronunciation of all the consonants and vowels here, but if you’re interested, you can listen to our pronunciation series designed to help you master Korean pronunciation. Rather, now we’re going to discuss some of the more interesting aspects of pronunciation.

1. A Korean Syllable

For example, the consonant that is equivalent to the sound of the English alphabet “-s” is ㅅ in Korean. While in English you can pronounce “-s” on its own as in “sky,” “ski,” or “school,” in Korean you have to add the vowel ㅡ (eu) to make it 스 (seu).

This explains one of the reasons that Korean people pronounce words that come from English using a different pronunciation.

2. Double Consonants

ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ, and ㅈ respectively have the sounds of [-g], [-d], [-b], [-s], and [-j/-z], and when you double them and write ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, and ㅉ, they have the sounds of [-kk], [-tt], [-pp], [-ss], and [-jj/-zz].

The easiest way to differentiate these double-consonant sounds from single-consonant sounds is to remember that the double-consonant sounds are a little more high pitched than the other sounds.

3. Aspirated Consonants

Along with the double consonants, there are aspirated consonants, which are very easy to pronounce because English has the same sounds.

They are ㅋ [-k], which is an aspirated version of ㄱ [-g], and ㅌ [-t], the aspirated version of ㄷ [-d], and ㅍ [-p], the aspirated version of ㅂ [-b], and ㅊ [-ch], the aspirated version of ㅈ [-j/-z].

4. The Consonant ㄹ

2. why is correct pronunciation in korean important.

Proper pronunciation is important, very important. Some say it’s even more important than getting the grammar perfectly correct! Why would this be?

1) Good Understanding

If communicating with native speakers matters to you when learning Korean, you need to be understood when you talk, and you need to be able to understand the native speakers. After all, without understanding, the purpose of language is null and void! In order to be understood, you need to be able to speak the language in a way that is familiar to native speakers, or at least recognizable by them.

When learning to speak a new language, you will learn that the more you progress the more intricate it becomes! For instance, almost every language has vocabulary that may look the same in writing, but because the words are pronounced differently, they have very different meanings. This means that you may say a word in Korean, and because of a slight change in pronunciation, the meaning of the word changes completely. Understandably, this can make for pretty embarrassing situations! At worst, your mispronounced Korean will sound garbled to a native speaker.

Knowing the nuances of how a word or letter is pronounced will also help you to understand spoken Korean better.

No worries if this feels hard; you’re learning, and with our help at KoreanClass101, you will not have a problem with mispronunciation if you follow our advice and examples carefully.

2) Good Communication

Not pronouncing Korean or any other language correctly can lead to a lot of frustration because you’re unable to express what you mean, and you will not be understood correctly. Even if you have total knowledge of Korean grammar, and can write it like a native, not knowing how to speak it properly will only make for very frustrating communication all around.

3) A Good Impression

Even if you’re only a beginner, it is possible to speak any language correctly. This way, you are bound to make a good impression on native speakers, and when you’re more fluent, you will be likely to garner a lot more respect than a fumbling newbie speaker who doesn’t care much for correct pronunciation.

People often have a lot of patience for someone who learns to speak a new language, but native speakers are more likely to address you and engage with you in conversation if you work hard on your accent. This is simply because you’ll be able to understand one another! So, proficiency in pronunciation can mean the difference between having none or plenty of Korean speaking friends. It will also serve you well in the workplace, and make you popular with your Korean speaking managers and employers or employees.

Learning to speak Korean properly is also a sign of respect for not only the language, but also the native speakers and their customs.

3. Secrets to Learning the Correct Korean Pronunciation

1) Use voice recording tools to perfect your pronunciation

KoreanClass101 has plenty of resources to help you with your Korean pronunciation, so be sure to make thorough use of our recordings with native Korean speakers. These are available not only to demonstrate to you how you should pronounce Korean vocabulary , but also sentences and dialogues. Watch and listen to these over and over again to train your ear, and watch the teacher’s mouth as she speaks in the video lessons. Then, copy the speech as best you can. Later, you can record yourself to hear if you sound like a native speaker and compare yourself with native speakers. Great for self-motivation.

2) Practice in front of the mirror.

And see that you’re copying the correct lip and mouth movements.

3) Use our KoreanClass101 dictionary!

Use the Korean dictionary provided by KoreanClass101 to look up words and listen to the audio pronunciation. This will go a long way towards giving you an idea of how to pronounce a word or letter correctly.

4) Train your ear to the language!

Make an effort to often listen to Korean music and recorded books, and watch plenty of Korean movies and/or TV shows in Korean. This will train your ear to the language, and you’ll be surprised how quickly you pick up the accent. Remember, this is the way we learned to speak when we were young - mostly by listening to the adults talking, and repeating what they say!

5) Practice, practice, practice…

Repetition of the same thing may be boring, but in learning a new language, you’re creating new pathways in your brain. For these to remain and become habitual, you will need to repeat the correct pronunciation often.

6) Make friends with a native Korean speaker.

Don’t be shy to address them in Korean! Ask them to correct you when you make a pronunciation mistake - this is a wonderful way to practice and learn the language first-hand, and also to make new friends.

7) Practice your pronunciation with your Korean teacher!

If you’re a serious student and don’t know where to meet native Korean speakers, consider investing in KoreanClass101’s Premium PLUS plan . This means you will have your own native Korean teacher available to practice your pronunciation with, and much more! Send recordings of yourself speaking Korean and get feedback from your Korean teacher.

4. How to Download Your Free Guide to the Korean Alphabet

Log in with Your Free Lifetime Account and we’ll give you an instructional Korean PDF that covers the letters of the alphabet, practice worksheets, and a quiz to test yourself with… — absolutely FREE!

3 Reasons to Learn Korean Through PDF Lessons

Let’s now take a closer look at how studying Korean lessons in PDF format can help you reach your dream in up to half the time of normal video or audio lessons!

① Saves Minutes on Your Data Plan

Learning Korean through PDF lessons can dramatically reduce your data use. Once a lesson or tool is downloaded, you can then access it offline via your computer or smartphone any time or place regardless of Internet access. And once you’ve downloaded the Korean lessons in PDF format, you can actually access them faster than logging in and trying to do so via a live site. So not only will learning Korean using PDF lessons save minutes on your data plan—it will save you some significant time as well as the lessons add up!

② Print and Take All Korean Lessons and PDF Tools With You Anywhere

Sometimes, a tiny smartphone screen just isn’t adequate, especially when you are trying to learn something new. The great thing about PDF lessons, tools or files is that they can be quickly printed and taken anywhere after you download them. In fact, printing out Korean lessons in PDF format can actually save you time when compared to going through the material on a smartphone with a small screen—even with the extra printing time!

③ Great Study Tool to Boost Retention and Mastery

Studying video or audio lessons online is a great way to learn a language because students can play and rewind sections as many times as needed until the lesson is mastered. But when you review the same Korean lessons again in PDF format, an incredible thing happens: your retention dramatically improves! Thanks to Time Spaced Repetition, seeing the information again in written format helps reinforce the information in your mind and improves both retention and recall. The benefits of learning Korean using PDF lessons quickly add up to significant time savings for you, your data plan, and your dream of learning a new language!

Why are we giving it away?

Learning to read and write is a must for all beginners. Although you get video lessons on how to write in Korean at KoreanClass101, you’ll still need physical worksheets to practice on. That’s why you’re getting this printable tutorial PDFs as a gift.

5. Related Lessons

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Welcome to How to Study Korean!

The purpose of this website is to provide Korean learners with a one-stop resource for learning Korean. We strive to provide the most detailed, accurate and clear explanations at every step of the way – from learning how to read all the way to advanced grammar. Our lessons will always be free and are chuck-full of content. You wouldn’t believe how much is in there. As a base, each lesson includes:

• Twenty to thirty vocabulary words.
• Grammar tailored to the specific level of study applying the vocabulary from that lesson.
• Audio recordings of every Korean word and sentence.

Our Lessons are separated into Units, each with 25 Lessons, 3 Quizzes and a Unit Test. We currently have the following Units:

• Unit 0: Learning How to Read
• Unit 1: Basic Korean Grammar
• Unit 2: Lower-Intermediate Korean Grammar
• Unit 3: Intermediate Korean Grammar
• Unit 4: Upper-Intermediate Korean Grammar
• Unit 5: Lower-Advanced Korean Grammar
• Unit 6: Advanced Korean Grammar
• Unit 7: Upper-Advanced Korean Grammar

In addition to the lessons, we also have additional material that you can use to supplement your learning.

• Workbooks for each lesson where you can apply what you learn to interesting and useful exercises
• Mobile App with various ways to quiz yourself on the vocabulary and sentences introduced
• Audio files for every word and sentence in Korean
• Hanja Lessons to help you understand the root-meanings of words
• Short Stories to increase your reading skills
• Simple Lists of vocabulary in case you want to organize things your way
• Anki Packages so you can make digital practice cards at home
• Vocabulary Lists to help you understand how each word can be used (completed to Lesson 100)
• Conjugate buttons that you can press to see how every verb and adjective is conjugated (completed to Lesson 75)
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Home » Articles » How to Learn the Korean Alphabet and Write in Korean [Step-by-Step Guide]

Full disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. ?

written by Shannon Kennedy

Language: Korean

Reading time: 7 minutes

Published: Jun 21, 2019

Updated: Apr 3, 2023

How to Learn the Korean Alphabet and Write in Korean [Step-by-Step Guide]

Are you learning Korean but still find yourself struggling with the Korean writing system? Well, here’s some good news: mastering the Korean alphabet may be easier than you think.

The Korean alphabet is often said to be one of the most logical and easy-to-learn writing systems. I agree with that assessment. I’d like to show you just how easy it can be to learn the Korean alphabet and master Korean writing.

This is Why the Korean Alphabet is So Easy to Learn (A Very Short History)

Before the present-day Korean alphabet, known as Hangul , the Korean language used Chinese characters. This changed in the 15th century when King Sejong the Great is said to have invented Hangul .

The Hangul system was created to be easy to learn, and easy to understand. That’s because it aimed to boost literacy among Korean speakers. All that’s good news for you as someone learning Korean.

The Korean Alphabet: Pronunciation

Like English, Korean has vowels and consonants. There are 19 consonants and 21 vowels in the modern Korean alphabet.

In Korean, the shape of each of the letters is a clue to how it sounds. Each of the strokes that make up a letter are said to show the position of the tongue in the mouth when pronouncing that letter. That’s pretty cool!

Let’s take a look, starting with consonants:

Korean Consonants

Many Korean consonants are similar in pronunciation to their English counterparts. That said, their position is in a word (beginning, middle, or end) can change how they’re pronounced. Here’s an overview:

ㄱ: “g” as in g o (may also be pronounced as “k” when in the final position) ㄴ: “n” as in n et ㄷ: “d” as in d og (may also be pronounced as “t” when in the final position) ㄹ: is somewhere in between “r” and “l” ㅁ: “m” as in m ama ㅂ: often “b” as in b ed but sometimes also an aspirated “p” as in p edal ㅅ: “s” as in s oon or sh as in sh ingle depending on the following vowel (it may also be pronounced as “t” in the final position) ㅇ: silent or “-ng” as in bri ng ㅈ: “j” as in j okester ㅊ: “ch” as in ch arge ㅋ: “k” as in k araoke ㅌ: “t” as in t iger ㅍ: “p” as in p our ㅎ: “h” as in h arness

Korean Double Consonants

ㄲ: “gg” as an initial sound but “kk” as a middle sound ㄸ: “dd” as an initial sound but “tt” as a middle sound ㅃ: “bb” as an initial sound but “pp” as a middle sound ㅆ: “ss” ㅉ: “jj”

Korean Vowels

ㅣ: “i” as in b ee ㅏ: “a” as in f a ther ㅓ: “eo” as in s o n ㅡ: “eu” as in p u t, said smiling ㅜ: “u” or “oo” as in b oo t ㅗ: “o” as in g o

Korean Diphthongs and Other Vowels

ㅑ: “ya” as in ya hoo ㅕ: “yeo” similar to you ng ㅠ: “yu” as in you ㅛ: “yo” as in yo ghurt ㅐ: “ae” as in l a nd ㅒ: “yae” as in ya nk ㅔ: “e” as in n e t ㅖ: “ye” as in ye llow ㅘ: “wa” as in w a nder ㅙ: “wae” as in wa g ㅚ: “oi” as though saying “n o e ntry” quickly ㅝ: “wo” as in wo nder ㅞ: “we” as in we t ㅟ: “wi” as in wee k ㅢ: “ui” as as s ue y

Korean Syllable Blocks

Korean letters don’t appear on their own, instead, they appear as a part of syllable blocks. Korean letters can be grouped in a number of ways but the first letter will always be a consonant (even if it’s just ㅇ functioning as a silent letter. The letter in the second position will always be a vowel. If there is a letter in the final position (this would be a third or fourth letter in a syllable block), it will also always be a consonant.

In short, at a minimum, a Korean syllable will always include a consonant (initial) followed by a vowel. It may also include one or two final consonants.

How a syllable block is formed will depend on the shape of the vowel. If it is a vertical vowel like ㅣorㅏ, the initial consonant is written on the left and the vowel on the right as in 나 or 니. When it’s a horizontal verb like ㅗ, the consonant is written above the vowel as in 노.

Here are a few of the ways Korean syllable blocks may look (C = Consonant, V = Vowel, F = Final Consonant(s)):

In Korean, a word may be made up of just one of these blocks like 저 ( cheo , “I”) or several as in 음악가 ( eumagga , “musician”). Like in English, Korean has a space between each word. “I am a musician” in Korean would therefore be: 저는 음악가입니다. ( cheo-neun eumagga-ibnida ).

Practice Makes Perfect: How to Memorize the Korean Alphabet

I’ve found that one of the best ways to learn the Korean alphabet is with spaced-repetition , using an app such as Anki . Getting regular exposure to the new letters, and then practicing reading syllable pairs (also through spaced-repetition) is one of the best ways to master reading and writing in Korean.

I also recommend doing writing practice when possible–even if it’s just writing English words using Korean letters.

In fact, there are lots of English loan words in Korean, and they make great writing practice. These are words like 케냐 ( ke-nya , “Kenya”), 쇼핑 ( sho-ping , “shopping”), 휴스턴 ( hyu-seu-teon , “Houston”), 컴퓨터 ( keom-pyu-teo , “computer”), 오랜지주스 ( o-raen-ji-ju-seu , “orange juice”), and so much more. These can be great practice when you’re just getting started.

Tools to Help You Learn the Korean Alphabet

If you’re still feeling unsure about how to go about learning the Korean alphabet, there are several tools available to help you master writing in Korean. Here are just a few of the resources that I used to learn the Korean alphabet:

• 90 Day Korean is an incredible resource for Korean learners. Not only does it teach you the basics of Korean, but it also teaches you the alphabet, pronunciation, and several helpful mnemonic techniques to aid your memorization. Plus, you’ll pick up tons of helpful vocabulary and grammar.
• Eggbun : This app is both adorable and educational. It’s also how I learned to type in Korean. With this app, you “chat” with a character who looks like an eggbun (hence the name), learning Korean bit by bit as your conversation progresses. It’s a freemium app, so the features you have access to are limited without upgrading.
• Scripts : Long gone are the days where you need to waste paper to practice writing characters or letters. When I first started learning Korean, I used grid paper to practice writing each letter. Now you can use Scripts to learn to write in Korean, getting digital writing practice while learning to recognize each letter.
• Anki : If you prefer the flashcard method of memorizing, Anki is a great tool. It uses spaced-repetition to teach you new information so that you’re sure to hang on to whatever you’re learning.

How to Type in Korean

Depending on the device that you’re using, there are different things you need to do to set up a Korean keyboard. You’ll likely want to get a keyboard overlay like this one for your computer, but I simply turn on the keyboard viewer on my computer and click to type.

90 Day Korean has a useful article on how to set up the Korean keyboard on your computer whether you’re using a Mac or PC.

On mobile devices, it’s simpler. You can go into your settings, add the Korean keyboard and then toggle to it when you need it to type.

And the best way to get comfortable typing? You’ve got it — practice. It’s normal to type frustratingly slow at the beginning but stick with it. It’ll come with time and practice.

Over to You

A different writing system doesn’t have to keep you from learning a new language. Learning the Korean alphabet and how to form syllable blocks isn’t as scary as it might first seem and I know you’ve got this! The Korean alphabet is incredibly intuitive and you’ll quickly pick it up.

What about you? How are you learning the Korean alphabet? I’d love to hear about your techniques and resources for learning to read and write in Korean in the comments below.

Shannon Kennedy

Language Encourager, Fluent in Months

Shannon is Head Coach for the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge . She is currently based in Southern California where she performs as a professional musician. Her passions are cooking, reading, traveling and sharing her adventures in language learning.

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The First 128 Korean Words You Should Learn

Looking to boost your Korean vocabulary? In this post, you’ll find the most useful Korean words and phrases .

You’ll learn an assortment of basic terms related to family, numbers, greetings, honorifics, questions, Korean holidays, days of the week, months of the year, common adjectives, verbs and even Korean slang.

And along the way, you’ll pick up loads of cultural insights, as well.

There’s a lot to digest here so let’s not dilly-dally and get right into it!

Basic Korean Greetings and Courtesies

Basic korean questions, korean family words, essential korean honorifics, common korean adjectives, common korean verbs, korean numbers, korean days of the week, korean months of the year, korean holidays and celebrations, korean colors, korean slang, and one more thing....

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While Koreans aren’t generally your outgoing personalities who’ll casually strike up a conversation with strangers, they’re actually very warm and welcoming—especially when formally introduced by a common friend.

As a guest to the culture, you have to observe common courtesies. Learning a language becomes a lot easier when you have plenty of opportunities to practice listening to the ways native speakers talk.

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Seeing these words in use will help you understand better when and how to actually use them yourself. Also check out this post for some Korean greetings , and check out this post for how to say good morning in Korean specifically. 

Make sure that when you’re using these question words you add on -yo at the end to make them polite. If you’re not sure how to make phrases polite, make sure you brush on Korean formality. 

For some more phrases, check out the video below where you’ll learn 10 of the most common questions and conversation starters to spark up a discussion with anyone in Korean.

Korean culture is steeped in Confucian philosophy, and filial piety is one of its basic tenets. Family is big in the culture and absolute respect and consideration are given to elders.

Koreans have specific terms for the different folks that occupy the different branches and levels of the family tree. For example, as you can see above, there are terms for people in your wife’s father’s side and different terms for people on her mother’s side.

There’s a premium placed on seniority in Korean culture and, in addition to age, one’s social status also has a very strong bearing in social interactions. Deference and respect are shown to and expected by elders, bosses, government officials, corporate bigwigs, etc.

Knowing all that, here are the honorifics that you can use to refer people above, beside and below you in the social ladder:

Nim is used to speak formally to persons older than you. It’s usually used after professions, like teachers ( 선생님 — Seon-saeng-nim) or presidents/CEOs ( 회장님 — Hwe-jang-nim).

If nim is used for professions or titles, shi is used for specific names. It’s Korea’s version of the English “Mr.” or “Ms.” or the Japanese – san , as in “Daniel- san .”

So if a person’s first name is 태원 (Tae-won), it becomes 태원씨 (Tae-won-shi). Always remember to attach the honorific after the first name, not the last name.

아저씨 (Ah-jeo-sshi)

This is given to middle-aged (40s to late 50s) men and is similar to the English “mister.”

아주머니 (Ah-joo-mo-ni)

This one’s given to middle-aged women, a little bit more formal than 아줌마 (Ah-jum-ma), as a sign of respect for somebody older than you. Because this is the equivalent of the English “ma’am,” some might protest its application on them, saying, “Excuse me, I’m not as old as you think.”

Girls use this to refer to an “older brother.” But the meaning of oppa  has evolved over time, now including older guys who are just friends. It can also now mean boyfriend. Watch any Korean drama and you’ll most probably hear oppa  used this way.

This is what boys call guys who are older than them. It means “older brother” but its use has since been expanded to include guys who are your friends, but older. The emphasis is on the word “older” rather than on “brother.” School seniors are considered as hyung  by the freshmen class.

언니 (Uhn-nee)

Girls call other girls who are older than them uhnnie.  It means “older sister,” but can be used in a friendship setting.

누나 (Noo-na)

This is the male version uhnnie and “older sister.” It’s how boys show deference and endearment for their older friends who are females.

동생 (Dong-saeng)

If you’re an oppa/hyung  or uhnnie/noona, the person calling you that is your dongsaeng. The term can be used for male and female friends younger than you.

선배 (Seon-bae )

In the context of work or school, seonbae  are people who have seniority. Maybe they have more experience in the profession, have a higher rank or came to the company earlier than you. These people wield plenty of respect and influence in the organization.

후배 (Hoo-bae)

A hoobae  is a junior person in an organization. They’re younger, less experienced and are relatively new to the group. They’re expected to speak politely to their seonbae.

Depending on where a person is on the totem pole, he can be a seonbae for one and a hoobae  for another.

For more Korean adjectives, check out this post . 

Learn some more Korean verbs in this post . The book “500 Basic Korean Verbs” also has more action words to add to your Korean.

Learning to count in Korean can be a bit tricky! Korea has two number systems, and they’re used for different purposes.

The native Korean number system below is used when you want to count something, like “one apple,” “two bananas” and “10 fingers.” Age, which is very important in Korean society, uses this counting system. The number system only goes as high as 99.

The next number system, a Chinese (Sino) influenced one, is used when you want to use figures for things like telephone numbers, addresses, dates and money.

Unlike the previous system that only goes as high as 99, these numbers go to trillions and beyond. So let’s say you have trillions of apples—you’d switch to this system to count them. Here are the first 10 Sino-Korean numbers:

There’s just seven of days of week, so memorizing them shouldn’t take a week (Plus, they all end in -yo-il).

The names of the days of the week have Chinese origins and taken from the names of the five elements in nature and two heavenly bodies—the sun and the moon.

The Korean months of the year also have some Chinese origins. Wol  is the Sino-Korean word for “month,” and it’s prefixed by the Sino-Korean numbers you learned previously:

Koreans hold annual celebrations that reflect their history, values and beliefs as a nation. Here are some of them:

새해 (Sae-hae) — New Year’s Day

This takes place on January 1st and is typically celebrated like other countries around the globe: with lots of food, drinks, music and fireworks. It’s also known as Shinjeong , which is the solar new year in the Gregorian calendar, as opposed to the lunar new year (see below). 

설날 (Seol-lal) — Lunar New Year

Seolnal is more culturally significant for Korea—a celebration based on the lunar calendar which has only 354 days to the year. The Lunar New Year is usually a three-day affair, covering the day before Seolnal,  the day itself, and the day after.

Koreans often go back to their hometowns bringing gifts for parents and paying respects to their ancestors. Hanbok , the traditional garment is worn on the day itself. Tables get loaded with food which almost always includes rice cake soup and fried pancakes.

삼일절 (Sam-il-jeol) — Independence Movement Day

In the afternoon of March 1, 1919, Korean activists declared “everlasting liberty” from Japanese occupiers who controlled the Korean peninsula at that time. The independence document touted Korea’s 5,000-year-long history and their right to freely co-exist with all humankind.

어린이날 (Eoh-ree-nee-nal) — Children’s Day

Every Korean child is excited for the fifth of May celebrations. They get their gifts they’ve been hinting for the longest time. There could also be money involved. Mom and dad also take them to amusement parks, zoos, malls and museums to give them the time of their lives.

부처님 오신 날 (Boo-cheo-nim Oh-shin-nal) — Buddha’s Birthday

Buddhism is one of the major religions in Korea. It’s celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth month of the Lunar calendar.

현충일 (Hyeon-choong-il) — Memorial Day

June 6 honors the ultimate sacrifice made by the men and women who fought in the Korean wars. The president leads the rites at the National Cemetery in Seoul. The flag is flown at half-mast and at 10 AM, sirens ring all across the country and followed by a minute of prayerful silence.

제헌절 (Je-heon-jeol) — Constitution Day

A country cannot be strong without a codified system of laws. July 17, 1948 is hailed as the day when Korea’s fundamental law of the land was promulgated. Bad news though: the day is a working holiday. 

광복절 (Gwang-bok-jeol) — Liberation Day

Koreans raise the flag with a little bit more pride on this day. August 15 commemorates Korea’s liberation from Japan, after decades-long of struggle and turmoil. This is the day the empire of Japan unconditionally surrendered to the Allied forces in World War II.

추석 (Chu-seok) — Korean Thanksgiving

There’s American Thanksgiving, then there’s Chuseok or Korean Thanksgiving—a three-day celebration which happens around September or October. Koreans flock back to their hometowns and spend time with the family. Special food, like songpyeon,  rice dough filled with chestnuts, red beans and sesame seeds, is prepared.

Chuseok  literally means “Autumn eve.” It’s a harvest festival, an homage to Korea’s roots as an agricultural nation.

개천절 (Gae-cheon-jeol) — National Foundation Day

October 3 each year commemorates the mythical founding of the first Korean Kingdom by Dangun, known as the “Grandson of Heaven.” Legend has it that Dangun is the son of Hwanung who descended from heaven and landed on Baekdu Mountain.

The holiday is celebrated with big fireworks displays that are always a crowd-pleaser. If you want a prime viewing spot, make your way to Yeouido Han River Park ahead of the crowd.

한글날 (Han-geul-nal) — Hangul Day

This is the only celebration of its kind, commemorating a writing system. Hangul came to replace the Chinese characters prevalent in the 1400’s. King Sejong the Great appointed a committee to create a writing system that can easily be used by his subjects. From that committee came forth Hangul,  a fully-fledged alphabet and one of the most scientific writing systems known today.

October 9, Hangul Day, celebrates this unparalleled accomplishment that shone a bright light on Korea’s distinctiveness as a nation.

크리스마스 (Keu-ree-seu-ma-seu) — Christmas

Christianity is one of the big religions in Korea. Christmas is celebrated in Korea just as it’s celebrated around the world, with Christmas songs, presents and fine food. You’ll be surprised to learn though that Christmas is celebrated more by couples than by families!

Just like in other cultures, colors are highly symbolic and have traditional meanings in Korean culture. White, black, red, blue and yellow are the five traditional colors of Korea.

These colors are seen in the Korean flag, and are rich with history, religion and meaning. Here are the colors in Korean : 

흰색 (Heen-saek) — White

Only the noble class and royalty used to be able to wear colored clothing. The masses, who couldn’t afford those expensive color dyes, wore white hanboks. And so the Koreans came to be known as “white-clad people.”

The color, which occupies the biggest real estate in the Korean flag, is also associated with purity, peace and patriotism.

검정색 (Geom-jeong-saek) — Black

Black symbolizes death and winter. It also symbolizes the end of a cycle.

파란색 (Pa-ran-saek) — Blue

In the Korean flag, blue represents the yin component of the Yin-yang. It symbolizes feminine energy—cool and refreshing.

빨간색 (Bbal-gan-saek) — Red

Red represents fire. It signifies the masculine yang component of Yin-yang—creative, passionate and alive. Today, red is worn during sporting events to show team support.

노란색 (No-ran-saek) — Yellow

Yellow represents a complete balance of the Yin-yang forces. Yellow symbolizes the sun, the center of everything. And being the “center,” it also symbolizes the beginning or starting point of knowledge and wisdom.

초록색 (Cho-rohk-saek) — Green

Green symbolizes fertility, new beginnings and abundance. Traditionally, green used to be considered a variation of the color blue.

갈색 (Gal-saek) — Brown

주황색 (Joo-hwang-saek) — Orange

분홍색 (Boon-hong-saek) — Pink

보라색 (Bo-ra-saek) — Purple

대박! (Dae-bak!) — Awesome!

When something positive or good has just happened, you yell this in celebration. Say, you just passed a test or successfully flirted with your crush, you say, “Daebak!”

콜! (Kol!) — Let’s do it!

Poker players say “Call!” to signify that they’re still in the game. Koreans use it to affirm that they’re up for doing something. For example you can say to a friend, “Shall we eat pizza and watch ‘Big Bang Theory’ tonight?” And they can say “Kol!”

아싸! (Ah-ssa!) — Nice!

Like daebak,  this one’s another celebratory expression. So be ready with “Ahssa!” when something nice happens, like when you just got tickets to see your favorite K-pop group.

파이팅! (Pah-ee-ting!) — C’mon!

“Fighting!” You’re egging somebody to do something (hopefully not something illegal). You’re bucking him up, assuring him, “You can do it!” “Go, go, go!”

For some more Korean slang check out this post , and for Korean text slang, check out this one . Also check out this video for more on how to use 콜!

And so we wrap up this one here. There’s a lot to absorb in this post, so keep on coming back to this blog to review. 

‘Til the next one! 

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500+ Basic Words And Phrases In Korean: Useful List

• , September 7, 2023

Basic words and phrases in the Korean language (한국어 / hangugeo) can be easily learned nowadays. It is one of the most popular languages among southeast Asian countries because of the prevalence of Korean culture through Korean popular posts, Korean drama/movies, Korean music, and even Korean food.

People have different reasons why they want to learn this language and many people want to learn Korean to expand their vocabulary and understand how their favorite Korean actors and Kpop biases speak. Whatever the reason is, it is undeniable that the Korean language has taken a big step to know not just in Asia but all over the world.

Today, there are lots of people who speak English as their second language because it has been widely used all over the world, but learning to speak Korean will definitely step up your game. It will widen your vocabulary and give you a deeper understanding of Koreans. So, are you ready to learn new Korean words and Korean phrases? Let’s go! (가자! / gaja!)

Page Contents

What Are The Top 10 Basic Words In Korean?

Other basic korean phrases and words you should learn.

• A List Of 365 Common Korean Words To Improve Your Vocabulary

Korean Language That Reflects Korean Culture

About the korean language, start learning korean now.

If you are wondering which essential Korean words you should learn first, have a look at the list below:

• Yes : 네 (ne) / 예 ( ye )
• No : 아니오 ( a-ni-yo )
• Okay : 괜찮아요 ( gwaen-chan-a-yo )
• Hello : 안녕하세요   ( an-nyeong-ha-se-yo )
• Please (for requests): 주세요 ( ju-se-yo )
• Thank you : 감사합니다 ( gam-sa-ham-ni-da ) / 고마워요 ( go-ma-wo-yo )
• You’re welcome : 천만에요 ( cheon-man-e-yo )
• Excuse me : 실례합니다 ( sil-lye-ham-ni-da )
• Sorry : 미안합니다 ( mi-an-ham-ni-da ) / 미안해 ( mi-an-he )
• Goodbye : 안녕히 계세요 ( an-nyeong-hi-gye-se-yo )

Meanings And Sounds Of The Basic Words And Phrases in Korean You Should Lean

There is a special reason why people want to learn Korean words and Korean phrases. It can be because they are inspired by the Korean music, Korean books or Korean dramas they are listening to and watching.

It may also be a requirement for an elective subject in school. Most of all, people want to start learning Korean because they want to travel to Korea and start conversations with locals.

Whatever the reason is, it is really commendable for you to start learning Korean, so here’s a list of Basic Words and Phrases in Korean for you to start with:

English Translation: Yes

네 ( ne ) is used the same way it is used in the English language. As a traveler, this is really essential, especially in airports, shopping, dining, and traveling around the country. You can also hear people say 예 ( ye ) to say “Yes” in Korean, which has the same meaning as 네(ne). But in some cases, older people might consider 예 ( ye ) a more polite way to say “Yes.” 

2. 아니요 (a-ni-yo)

English Translation: No

No is also one of the basic but most important words to learn in Korean. It is as important as the word Yes because you will not say Yes all the time.

On the other hand, when you are in doubt or unsure about something, 아마도 / amado is the right word for you. Of course, there will be a lot of things that you won’t be so sure about when you begin to learn Korean. 

3. 괜찮아요 (gwaen-chan-a-yo)

English Translation: Ok

The common way of agreeing is saying Ok (괜찮아요 / gwaenchanayo ). This is just a word, but it is really important and useful in many different situations. 

4. 안녕하세요 (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo)

English Translation: Hello

안녕하세요 ( annyeonghaseyo ) is one of the most common words in the Korean language you will hear anywhere. Koreans love to welcome people with a greeting. This is the easiest Korean greeting that you can use in many situations. This is also a great conversation starter and icebreaker when communicating with the locals.

5. 주세요 ( ju-se-yo )

English Translation: Please

Koreans really value respect and politeness. It is clearly reflected in Koreans when you go to their country or even just watch their movies and dramas that is why the word Please (주세요 / juseyo) is used often. As a traveler, this is important to show politeness to the locals in different situations, such as dining in a restaurant and shopping. 

6. 감사합니다 ( gam-sa-ham-ni-da )

English Translation: Thank you

Saying Thank you(감사합니다 / gamsahamnida ) in Korean is really important, especially when you visit Korea. 감사합니다 ( gamsahamnida) is used in formal conversations, and you could also hear 고마워요 ( gomawoyo ), which is used in casual conversations. This is also a common Korean phrase or expression that is really important in daily conversations.

We all know that saying Thank you is a sign of showing appreciation and gratitude to another person, which is very important in Koreans. There are a lot more Korean phrases that you can use to say Thank you, but this is the most common one you can use in both speaking and writing. 

7. 천만에요 (cheon-man-e-yo)

English Translation: You’re welcome

You should also know how to respond when somebody expresses gratitude to you by simply just saying You’re welcome (천만에요 / cheonmaneyo ) in Korean. This is also a sign of politeness toward other people. Korean phrases like this are really important to keep the conversation going and be nice. 

8. 실례합니다 ( sil-lye-ham-ni-da )

English Translation: Excuse me

There will also be times when you need to use the phrase Excuse me (실례합니다 / sillyehamnida ). This phrase is used to apologize, but there are different usages for this phrase. One example is 저기요 ( jeogiyo) , which is used to get attention. Another example is 잠시만요 ( jamsimanyo), which is used to pass someone. 

9. 미안합니다 ( mi-an-ham-ni-da )

English Translation: Sorry

Both Korean phrases have the same meaning, but they are used in different situations. 미안합니다 / (mianhamnida) is formal, and you could also hear 미안해 (mianhe), which is more casual. Saying sorry is a sign of humility and respect. 

10. 안녕히 계세요 (an-nyeong-hi-gye-se-yo)

English Translation: Goodbye

Knowing how to say Goodbye (안녕히 계세요 / annyeonghi gyeseyo ) in Korean is also important, especially if you are a tourist. It is one of the most common Korean greetings, which is mostly used in daily conversations.

These 10 basic words and phrases in the Korean language are just the simplest and easiest that you can learn. As a person who doesn’t know how to speak Korean, these phrases and words are a good starting point in your journey in language learning. For people who speak English, learning Korean may be challenging, especially in written form, since it is complicated. But with a lot of practice and continuous reading of blogs like this, you will surely learn little by little. 

Speaking Korean will require you to learn more vocabulary other than the 10 mentioned above. Now that you have learned the 10 basic words and phrases in the Korean language let us learn more. Take note, we are only learning the basic words, phrases, and sentences, there are separate blog posts for other topics as well. Here is a list of additional Korean phrases and words to learn in different categories:

1. For Everyday Life Conversations

There are plenty of Korean phrases and vocabulary that are commonly used in everyday conversation. There are Koreans who speak English, but there are also those who don’t. Learning basic words and phrases in the Korean language, as well as sentences, will make it easier when you are talking to the locals. Here is a list of words and phrases that are used in everyday life:

2. Korean Words For Shopping 

Shopping is part of a great adventure in Korea. Even if you don’t plan to go to Korea, there may be times when you want to buy something in a Korean store. One of the reasons why people admire Koreans is the products they use in everyday life. Here are some words that may help your shopping experience easier:

3. Basic Korean Words And Phrases About Food And Dining

Another reason why people love Korean culture is because of their food. If you want to eat in local restaurants or if someone invited you for a meal, these are some phrases you need to know as a beginner. Take note of the pronunciation of these Basic words and phrases in the Korean language because it is really important.

4. Essential Phrases About Travel And Directions In Korean

Traveling is really hard if it is your first time, and it is even harder when you don’t know how to speak their native language. Even if you are with your friends and you only know how to speak English, traveling will be hard for all of you. If you decide to Korea, try learning the following phrases that the native speakers use:

5. Korean Phases About Clarification

Being a non-native speaker will really give you a hard time understanding conversations and interactions. So, it’s nice to learn some basic words and phrases in the Korean language that you can use to make things clear. Surely, Koreans will be kind enough to clarify things for you.

6. Words And Phrases About Emergency In Korean

Emergencies can happen anytime and anywhere. You never know when and where it will happen. You may feel comfortable if you always have a doctor like Kang Mo-Yeon (in Descendants of the Sun) or a responsive police officer like Choi Eun-Cheol (in Hometown Cha-cha-cha) by your side. But, if you don’t have people like them at all times, you must learn some basic words and phrases in Korean to be used for emergencies like the following:

7. Korean Phrases About Accommodation 

Going to a place as wonderful as South Korea will bring you different sorts of adventures which can be tiring but fulfilling. One of the first things you’ll do when you arrive in Korea is to look for accommodation that is really budget-friendly but can still give you the Korean cultural experience. Learn these basic words and phrases in the Korean language that are related to accommodation to have smooth transactions.

8. Korean Words And Phrases Related To Love And Relationships 

We cannot talk about basic words and phrases in the Korean language without some love and relationship phrases. After all, I bet one of the reasons why you’re here is because of your favorite Oppa and bias. And hey, pretty sure that the K-dramas never failed to make you fall in love or believe in true love, even in mermaids like “Legend of the Blue Sea” and aliens like “My Love from the Star.”

Falling in love with Koreans is not hard because, let’s admit it, what’s not to love about them? So, here are some basic words related to love and relationships:

9. Basic Words For Family In The Korean Language

Guided by the teachings of Confucianism, Korean families strictly value filial piety and respect for elders. Koreans are known to be family-oriented people. Family members are extremely devoted to one another. It is well-reflected in their K-dramas like “Reply 1988”. If you watched this K-drama, you could see the Korean culture in terms of family. Elders are well-respected. Parents are responsible for molding their children to be good and responsible citizens by providing them with education and teaching them Korean culture. Children are supposed to be obedient and respectful to their parents and pursue education to become successful in the future.

Here are some words and phrases related to the family that you should learn as a beginner:

10. Korean Verbs And Adjectives 

Verbs and adjectives are essential parts of the sentence structure. If you know the basic verbs and adjectives, it will be easier for you to understand and write sentences in Korean. Remember, the Korean language is meant to be learned and understood easily. At first, it seems like it’s hard to learn, especially if you’re from a western country, but after learning the Korean alphabet, you’ll realize that it’s not hard to learn Korean. Here are some basic verbs and adjectives you’ll need to know.

11. Words About Time In Korean 

One thing to learn about Koreans is they are really organized. Everything is fast-paced to keep productivity but remember, fast-paced doesn’t always compromise quality. They still care about details and quality of work. If you’re following a K-pop group, they spend time before releasing new songs, but they make sure that their comebacks are a blast.

12. Korean Slang Words 

In learning basic words and phrases in the Korean language, we shouldn’t miss Korean slang words . If you have a strong grasp of this, understanding Korean jokes and watching K-dramas will be much easier. Also, if you start making friends, you will talk more casually. Usually, these are the terms that you’ll commonly use.

Korean slang words are not usually taught in the classroom. They are learned through interacting with other people and, of course, the internet.

13. K-Drama Words And Phrases

“Crash Landing On You,” “Reply 1988,” and “Goblin.” These are just three of the most iconic K-dramas that made history in the K-drama world. If you’re an OG K-drama fan, you have surely unconsciously picked up words commonly used in K-dramas. Wondering what it means? Check out these basic Korean phrases used in K-dramas. 

14. Korean Words For Music

Just recently, Lisa, the main dancer of the Korean girl group Blackpink, dropped her first-ever single entitled “Lalisa.” This song really made the whole world stop, even non-Koreans, because it broke two Guinness World Records. “Lalisa” hits 73.6 million views in its first 24 hours, breaking Taylor Swift’s “Me!” with 65.2 million. It also set a new record for a solo K-pop artist’s most-viewed YouTube music video in 24 hours which was formerly held by her bandmate Rosé.

BTS also set billboard records with their song “Dynamite” and is now concurring the world’s music industry. Just recently, they released their song with Coldplay entitled “My Universe.”

These are just two of the internationally recognized Korean groups that really made their way to represent Korea. It is no doubt that the Korean music industry is a global trend and has a huge fanbase in different parts of the world.

 A List Of 365 Common Korean Words To Improve Your Vocabulary

Below are some of the basic vocabulary of common Korean words about everyday life, essential words such as Korean family words, most typical greetings, basic medical terms, directions, and other terms for everyday life.

Whenever you hear the words or phrases that Korean people speak or see their expressions when you watch their different dramas on the television or on your phone, it becomes more and more familiar to you. By listening to native Korean speakers, you are already making a lot of effort to remember these basic words and phrases!

Learning about Korean culture is necessary because this will widen your perspective on learning the Korean language itself. When you observe Korean culture, you will recognize the meaning behind their language, words, phrases, sentences, and vocabulary in terms of speaking. 

The common Korean vocabulary words that reflect Korean culture are the following:

• 친구  — “Chingu” (Friend) — This word has a different usage in English because Koreans generally use this word of the same age.
• 사랑  — “Sarang” (Love) — This is a Korean word for love. Japanese also have this word with the same meaning.
• 썸타다  — “Sseom-Ta-Da” (Mutual Understanding/Something’s going on) — This basic Korean phrase came from the English word ‘something’ or ‘something’s going’ on in terms of dating, and ‘ta-da’ is an expression of ‘go-along’ if the dating couple will move to a more serious relationship.
• 애교  — “Aegyo” (Charming Act) — This word is a trend right now in Korea. Mostly, women and even men do this charming and adorable act to look sweet to people. They often do the ‘aegyo’ when they take a ‘selka’ on their phones.
• 셀카  — “Selka” (Selfie) — From the English word ‘selfie’. Most Korean artists love to take pictures. Coz why not? Korean glass skin is worth showing off.
• 미안해  — “Mianhae” (I’m sorry) — This is an informal way to speak ‘I’m sorry’ in Korean. You always hear this Korean word, mostly in Kpop songs. In addition, Koreans are polite , especially the youngsters.
• 물  — “mul” (water) — This is the most commonly used noun in South Korea, as you probably hear in many K-dramas when drinking soju or eating moekbang.
• 밥  — “bap” (rice) — It’s not only the Philippines and Japan who love to eat rice, but also Korea. The rice that they eat was often wrapped in different types of leaves, together with meat or fish.
• 고기  — “gogi” (meat) — Koreans love meat, most especially grilled pork belly, which is also known as ‘ samgyeop-sal ’ with different ingredients. This is commonly eaten by a Korean family.
• 소주  — “soju” (clear liquor) — This is the most popular liquor in Korea. In Korean culture, drinking alcohol like soju, rice wine, and other alcohol is a big part of the lives of Korean family.
• 지금  — “jigeum” (now) — We frequently hear this word from our favorite Kpop groups whenever they have interviews, or sometimes in the daily conversations of your favorite Korean actors or artists in a variety show. This literally means ‘now’ or ‘at this moment’.
• 괜찮아요  — “gwaenchanayo” (That’s okay) — Most Koreans are cheerful and also compassionate people. In other words, you probably hear this Korean word whenever there’s an unexpected scenario in a Korean drama.
• 잘 자요  — “jal jayo” (Goodnight) — Although some Koreans use the English term ‘goodnight,’ most of the songs we hear from our favorite Kpop groups use ‘jal jayo.’ See? Through listening to their songs, we can learn basic Korean phrases, and understand some of the common Korean words in just a moment.
• 잠깐만요!  — “jamkkannmanyo!” (Just a moment! / Wait!) — This expression from the most common Korean words is generally formally used in everyday life.
• 다 같이  — “da gachi” (All together) — You probably heard it right? This Korean word is usually heard when you watch a concert from your favorite Kpop group in initiating the fans to sing along with them.
• 이게 뭐예요  — “ige mwoyeyo” (What is this?) — This is also an expression from the most common Korean words, and it is also mainly used in everyday life in an informal manner, most especially when you are talking with your close friends or relatives.
• 좋아요  — “joayo” (Good) — This is also one of the most common Korean words that are being used a lot. You can hear this through different Korean vloggers who want different viewers to subscribe and like ‘joayo’ their vlogs.

Learn these cultural terms and you will be one step ahead!

Now that you’ve learned a few important words in Korean, there’s still a long way to go. If you are new to the language and are interested in learning even more details about this fantastic language, read this helpful information and take note!

Korean is spoken in North and South Korea, China (mainly provinces bordering North Korea), Japan, and Russia.

Korean is also spoken in other large communities around the world, such as the US (most from New York), Singapore, Thai, Guam, and Paraguay. The number of Korean speakers continues to increase because there are some countries like the Philippines, where the Korean language is taught as an elective course.

Affiliation

The most known origin of the Korean language is the Altaic language family of central Asia, including Turkish, Mongolian, and the Tungusic languages of Siberia. Other linguists also argue that Korean belongs to the Austronesian language family.

Because of the long history between Chinese and Japanese, determining their linguistic affiliation is really complicated. Some also considered the Korean language as isolated. Whatever its origin may be, it gave birth to an amazing language called Korean.

We all know that the whole country of Korea is divided into two – The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). The Ancient Korean language was divided into many dialects, but naturally unified during the Unified Silla period.

There are two standard varieties of Modern Korean. Both dialects are distinguished and regulated by the national language policy of the country. Most of these dialects are mutually intelligible.

• Seoul Dialect – The standard dialect of South Korea. There are also regional dialects such as Kyeonsang, Chungchong, Jeolla, and Jeju Island.
• P’yŏngyang Dialect – This is the standard dialect of North Korea. The regional dialects include Hamkyeong, Pyeongan, and Hwanghae.

Learning basic words and phrases in the Korean Language will definitely help survive. You will hear a lot of phrases and words that you don’t even understand, and it will make it hard for you to have good communication with the locals. Of course, you won’t always have the opportunity to check your dictionaries or some free PDF files saved on your cellphone to compose what you want to say.

If you want to learn more Korean words (including transitional words ), phrases, and sentences, the Ling app will help you achieve your goals. Through the Ling app , you will be able to hear the pronunciation of each word. This will help you learn to speak the language accurately.

Ling will provide fun and engaging lessons that will surely make your language learning experience exciting and meaningful. These lessons will help you learn how to speak and write in Korean.

Through Ling, you don’t have to attend any class on a given schedule because you can learn with just your phone or computer during your free time. Learning a language will be a lot easier and more fun. What are you waiting for? Download the Ling app on the Play Store or App Store and start learning Korean now! 

7 Responses

I really like those phrases it really help in my Korean learning

Daedanhi gamsahamnida❤️

thanks for teaching korean language

i would like to learn korean please

Hi James, Try our Ling app to learn Korean !

This will help me in my learning of the Korean language and through my journey as well as a architect as I proceed on. Thank you so much.

it really helped me ghamsamnida.

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Hello in Korean: 11 Ways to Say Hi in Korean

How do you say hello in Korean? Learning basic greetings in Korean is a must if you’re starting out with the language. Knowing how to say “hello” in Korean will help you not only make a good first impression but help you kick-off conversations with native Korean speakers.

So if you’re here to learn how to say hello in Korean, we’ve got you covered.

In this post, you’ll learn how to say hi in Korean as well as many other Korean greetings. And if you'd like to learn more words and phrases, try Drops !

But first, let’s talk about formality in Korean.

Levels of Formality in Korean

The Korean language has seven different levels of formality. This means, depending on whom you’re speaking to, you may need to use a different level of formality. Thankfully, you’ll really only come across four of these seven levels in day-to-day interactions. What are they? 

• Honorific speech - this is the form of Korean used in formal work situations and often in the news
• Formal speech - this is the form of Korean used when speaking with an elder or someone you don’t know
• Familiar speech - used to be formal and polite, often with people you know but not very well
• Informal - this is the level of speech used with friends and family

Each of the ways to say hi in Korean in this article fit different formalities, so we’ll be sure to let you know if they lean towards being more formal or informal so you know which to use in different situations.

#1 안녕하세요 ( annyeong haseyo ) - “Hello” in Korean (formal)

“Hello” in Korean literally means “to do peace/well-being”. It’s used as both a question and an answer almost as though asking “Are you doing well?” and replying 네, 안녕하세요 ( ne, annyeong haseyo, “yes, I’m doing well”). 

This is the most common way to say “hello” in Korean and so it’s definitely the one you should most remember from this list of Korean greetings! You can use 안녕하세요 in any situation – with your Korean tutor, with coworkers, or when you greet someone as you walk into a store or restaurant.

#2 안녕 ( annyeong ) - “Hi” in Korean (informal)

To make 안녕하세요 more familiar or informal, you drop the second half of the greeting so that it simply becomes 안녕 ( annyeong ). This version is used with people you are close to or who are younger than you. And using this phrase is a sign of closeness to the person you’re speaking to.

#3 여보세요 ( yeoboseyo ) - “Hi” (on the phone) in Korean

To say “hi” in Korean on the phone, you use this greeting. It can be used whether or not you know the person calling, so it’s a versatile greeting. Just don’t use it any other time than when you’re answering the phone.

#4 안녕하십니까? ( annyeong hasimnikka ) - “Hello” (very formal) in Korean

This is the very formal version of “hello” in Korean. It’s used in speeches or the news in Korea and if you want to show a high level of respect to someone when you meet them for the first time. This greeting, like 안녕하세요, is both a question and an answer. 

#5 좋은 아침이에요 ( joeun achimieyo ) - “Good morning” in Korean

To say “good morning” in Korean, you use 좋은 아침이에요 ( joeun achimieyo ). It’s not as common as “hello”, but you can still use it.

#6 잘 잤어요? ( jal jasseoyo ) - “Did you sleep well?” in Korean

Another way to greet someone in Korean is by asking them how they slept. In Korean, this is 잘 잤어요? ( jal jasseoyo? , “Did you sleep well?”).

#7 오랜만이에요 ( oraenmanieyo ) - “Long time no see” in Korean

Greeting someone you haven’t seen in a while? You can use this phrase to say “long time no see” in Korean. It’s 오랜만이에요 ( oraenmanieyo ).

#8 밥 먹었어요? (bap meogeosseoyo) - “Have you eaten?” in Korean

An important way to greet someone in both Korean (and China) is by asking them if they’ve eaten. It’s typically used with people you know well and is meant to show you care about their well-being by asking if they’ve eaten.

#9 얼굴 보니까 좋다 ( eolgul bonikka jota) - “It’s good to see your face” in Korean

Want to get hip with the young adult crowd in Korean? This greeting, which literally means “it’s good to see your face” is a casual way to say hello in Korean.

#10 무슨 일이야? ( museun iriya? ) – “What’s up?” in Korean

This is a useful casual Korean greeting to use to ask someone “what’s up?” This would be used with friends and wouldn’t be appropriate outside of informal situations.

#11 안뇽 ( annyong ) - “hiiiii!” in Korean

If you want to sound cute in Korean and learn a bit of aegyo , this is a good greeting to use. Aegyo is a way of acting cute, or even childish, in Korea and is often seen as flirtatious. Aegyo is typically used by females, but there are occasions where a guy may use it. You can see lots of examples of aegyo in K-dramas. 

Choosing the Best Way to Say “Hello” in Korean

How do you know which of these eleven expressions you should use? Depending on the context and formality of the situation, certain greetings will be more appropriate than others. 

With friends and family, 밥 먹었어요? or 안녕 are likely the way to go. But in more formal situations, like work, school, or when talking to strangers, you may prefer to us 안녕하세요 or 잘 잤어요? 

How to Say Hello in Korean

Greetings aren’t just words. When you say hello, depending on where you are, you may bow to or even shake hands with the person you’re greeting. Make sure you close your eyes when you bow, it may be considered rude otherwise. 

When you are on familiar terms with someone, you can use their first name with 씨 ( shi ) and when you want to be more formal, you’ll attach 님 ­( nim ) to the person’s title. So, “teacher” for example, would be 선생님 ( seonsaengnim ). 

And if you'd like to learn how to say "goodbye" in Korean , we've got you covered.

Learn More Words and Greetings in Korean

Want to learn more words and greetings in Korean? Try Drops!

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How to Say Korean in Korean

Can't read Korean yet?

Click here to learn for free in 60 minutes!

What made you to interested in learning how to speak your new language? For many people, it has to do with how unique the alphabet that drew their attention to the language -ㄱ ㄴ ㄷ ㄹ ㅁ ㅂ ㅅ ㅇ ㅈ ㅊ ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅎ – these unique characters makes learning the language more interesting for sure. But first, you need to know how to say Korean in Korean!

How to Say Korean in Korean  

It is important to note that 한글[han-guel or hangul] specifically represents the written language. The language itself in general is called 한국어 or 한국말 [han-guk-uh or han-guk-mal] which is directly translated to the language and speaking.

Sample Sentences 

learning is very fun.

Alice, you can write  very well!

Teacher, Jinsoo speaks well.

Try writing 한글with your friends and family. Try speaking 한국말 with your friends and colleagues. Teach them the difference in 한글 (written language) and 한국말 (spoken language). The concept is not the same in English or in many other languages, but this is what makes 한국말 so very special!

History of the Written Korean Language

The alphabet was created by King Sejong in 1446 at the time of Chosun Dynasty. The goal of this creation was to make the entire Korean population literate. He accomplished this goal to the point where the literacy rate is now a whopping 99% !

The written language has even been adopted by African countries where their written language is disappearing. They are using Hangul to teach their citizens how to read and write in order to keep their history alive.

King Sejong is known to be one of the most influential people in the history of Korea. He is even featured on the 10,000 KRW bill  which is the most used money in Korea.

Now that you know more about the  spoken language and written language, try explaining the difference of 한글 and 한국말 to your friends and family! Korea has a very long and interesting history, so there is always plenty to learn about and explore!

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How to Say Hello in Korean

Last Updated: January 30, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Jennifer Mueller is a wikiHow Content Creator. She specializes in reviewing, fact-checking, and evaluating wikiHow's content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. Jennifer holds a JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 828,191 times. Learn more...

Learning basic greetings is important in any language. However, in a conservative culture such as Korea, it's more important to learn how to properly greet others to avoid causing offense. The standard way to say "hello" in Korean , used between adults who don't know each other, is 안녕하세요 (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo). If you're speaking to friends and relatives, there are more informal greetings you can use. There are also other words and phrases you can use to greet people depending on the context and the time of day. [1] X Research source

Showing Politeness and Respect

• This greeting should also be used in any context where it's important to maintain a degree of formality, such as in the workplace, even if you're talking to someone you're friendly with.
• Children also use this greeting when saying hello to adults.

Tip: The 요 (yo) at the end of the greeting tells you that it's polite. Any time you see 요 (yo), you know that the word or phrase being used is polite and generally acceptable to use among adults to convey the proper respect.

• 안녕 (an-nyeong) is also used among friends. However, for adults over the age of 30, you'll typically only hear this greeting between women. Men rarely, if ever, use it unless talking to a child. In Korean society, it is generally seen as inappropriate for an adult man to be using an expression that children use.

Tip: 안녕 (an-nyeong) is used to mean both "hello" and "goodbye." However, 안녕하세요 (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo) is only used to mean "hello."

• 반갑다! (ban-gap-da): This phrase means "it's good to see you" and is the most common informal greeting among adult male friends. Also may be used by teenagers and children.
• 잘 지냈어? (jal ji-ne-sseo?): Similar to "how are you," this phrase asks "have you been well?" Also a common greeting among adult male friends. Teenagers and children also use this greeting.
• 오랜만이야 (o-ren-ma-ni-ya): "Long time no see," used between adult male friends who haven't seen each other in a while. Children and teenagers will also say this to each other in the same context.
• 얼굴 보니까 좋다 (ul-gul bo-ni-gga jo-ta): "It's good to see your face," a colloquial, informal greeting used exclusively between adult friends.

• While you won't be greeted this way in every shop or restaurant you enter in Korea, you're likely to hear it in fancier places. Airline staff will also greet you this way on a Korean airline.
• You may be greeted this way while in Korea, but you would seldom have any opportunity to use it yourself unless you work in a customer service position in Korea. If you use this phrase in any other context, it will just make the people you greet feel awkward.

• The depth of your bow depends on the person and the context. Someone older than you or in a position of authority would always get a deeper bow.
• Never make eye contact with the other person when you bow. This is considered rude.

Using Other Types of Greetings

• Because the phrase ends in 요 (yo), it is considered polite and is appropriate to use regardless of who's on the other end of the line.

• While people will understand you when you say this, it isn't a commonly used greeting. It's best used between people you know relatively well, especially if one of them has said it to you first.

• Don't forget to bow while saying this unless you've already bowed.
• This phrase is also appropriate if you're meeting someone who appears to be older than you or is in a position of authority.

• Remember to pay attention to context as well as the age of the person you're greeting. If you're meeting someone your age in a professional or formal setting, you would typically still use 만나서 반갑습니다 (man-na-se-o ban-gap-seum-ni-da). 만나서 반가워요(man-na-se-o ban-ga-wo-yo) is appropriate in a casual social setting, such as when you're introduced to the friend of a friend.

Culture Tip: If you're unsure what level of politeness to use, stick with the more polite greeting. No one will fault you for being too polite or formal, but you could cause offense if you are too casual with someone.

Community Q&A

• Romanization of Korean words is a tool that can help you pronounce words and phrases more quickly. However, if you're trying to learn Korean, it's best to start learning the Korean alphabet and how to pronounce the letters first, rather than relying too much on romanization. Thanks Helpful 13 Not Helpful 1

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/korean.php
• ↑ https://www.clozemaster.com/blog/hello-in-korean/
• ↑ https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/south-korean-culture/south-korean-culture-greetings
• ↑ http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/korean.php
• ↑ https://koreabridge.net/post/how-say-%E2%80%98good-morning%E2%80%99-korean-90daykorean
• ↑ https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/korean.php

About This Article

To say hello in Korean, say "Annyeong" when greeting your friends or relatives. This is pronounced "ann yeong" and is a common greeting for informal situations, just like saying "hey" in English. In most other situations, use "Anyoung haseyo," pronounced "ahn-yong hah-say-yoh" instead, which is a common and respectful way to greet someone. When you answer the phone in Korean, you can say "Yeoboseyo," pronounced "yo-bo-say-yoh." This is the standard phone greeting, though it is not used in person. To learn how to say other greetings in Korean, like "Good morning," read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How Do I Write My Name in Korean?

Need a good conversation starter for your Korean friends? Show them your name written in Korean alphabet. They will be impressed!

In a Korean dictionary, what would be the order of words? Believe it or not, you already know the answer -- the alphabetical order. Wait, aren’t the Korean letters graphical symbols, rather than representation of sounds? Nope, that’s Chinese. Korean letters represent sounds, and that’s why your name, too, can be written in Korean.

Writing Your Name in Korean

I know you are eager to try writing your name in Korean now. But there is one rule that I need to explain. After this short step, you can really write your name in Korean! Look at the 14 basic Korean consonants. They are easy to learn, since they are distinct in shape. What about the vowels? At first glance, some Korean vowel characters may look similar. But, if you invest a few minutes of your time, you can easily tell them apart. I told you that some Korean vowels are written on the right side of a consonant, and some are written below a consonant. Is there a rule?

Hope this article was helpful. Enjoy writing names in Korean!

This article is brought to you by Enunce LLC, a Korean Translation Services provider offering Korean to English translation , English to Korean translation and Korean interpretation . Our particular strengths are in Korean legal translation and Korean technical translation .

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How To Write The Date In Korean | Korean Date Format

When learning Korean, there will inevitably come a time when you need to write the date in Korean. As you’re probably aware, different countries around the world write the date in different formats, and Korea is no different. In this post, we will teach you how to write the date in Korean and the correct Korean date format .

Related: How To Calculate Korean Age / “What Time Is It” In Korean

How To Write The Date In Korean

Before you can write the date in Korean, you need to know the Korean words for ‘year’, ‘month’, and ‘day’. The Korean words for ‘year’, ‘month’, and ‘day’ are:

년 (nyeon) = year 월 (wol) = month 일 (il) = day

Korean Date Format

When writing the date in Korean, the correct date format is year (년) followed by month (월) followed by day (일). For example, let’s say that today is the 1st of January, 2021. To write this day in the correct format in Korean it would be 2021년 1월 1일.

Remembering the correct Korean date format can easy or a little confusing depending on the date format you are used to in your country. Korean learners from the U.K, for example, may get confused sometimes as the date format that they would be used to is ‘dd-mm-yyyy’. And learners from America may also be confused with Korean dates as they would be used to the format ‘mm-dd-yyyy’. If the Korean date format is the same as your country, then the correct Korean date format should be easy to remember.

How To Say The Date In Korean

In order to say the date in Korean, you will need to know Sino-Korean numbers , months in Korean , and the words for ‘day’, ‘month’, and ‘year’ in Korean. When saying the date in Korean, you simply say the year followed by the word for year (년), the month followed by the word for month (월) and the day (number) followed by the word for day (일).

Korean Date Examples

Let’s look at how to say the date in Korean using the birthdays of the members of BTS as examples. We will write each date in the Korean date format, in English, and in Korean.

Jin’s Birthday Korean Date Format : 1992년 12월 4일 In English: 4th of December, 1992. In Korean: 천구백구십이년 십이월 사일

Suga’s Birthday Korean Date Format : 1993년 3월 9일 In English: 9th of March, 1993 In Korean: 천구백구십삼년 삼월 구일

J-Hope’s Birthday Korean Date Format : 1994년 2월 18일 In English: 18th of February, 1994 In Korean: 천구백구십사년 이월 십팔일

RM’s Birthday Korean Date Format : 1994년 9월 12일 In English: 12th of September, 1994 In Korean: 천구백구십사년 구월 십이일

Jimin’s Birthday Korean Date Format : 1995년 10월 13일 In English: 13th of October, 1995 In Korean: 천구백구십오년 시월 십삼일

V’s Birthday Korean Date Format : 1995년 12월 30일 In English: 30th of December, 1995 In Korean: 천구백구십오년 십이월 삼십일

Jungkook’s Birthday Korean Date Format : 1997년 9월 1일 In English: 1st of September, 1997 In Korean: 천구백구십칠년 구월 일일

The Date In Korean – Example Sentences

Now that you know how to write the date in Korean, the correct Korean date format, and how to say the day in Korean, let’s look at some useful example sentences you can use when talking about the date in Korean. Try and say each sentence out loud and then click on the audio to see how to pronounce it correctly.

Are you ready to get serious about learning Korean? Start our 100% FREE online Korean language course today!

Korean Alphabet A to Z – How Hangeul sounds like in English

Last modified: May 04, 2024 | 10 min read | By Joseph Gerocs

If you’re looking to learn the Korean alphabet from A to Z, then you’ve come to the right place! This article will cover all 24 letters of the alphabet and the sounds.

Here are the Hangul letters:

ㄱ ㄴ ㄷ ㄹ ㅁ ㅂ ㅅ ㅇ ㅈ ㅊ ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅎ

ㅏ ㅑ ㅓ ㅕ ㅗ ㅛ ㅜ ㅠ ㅡ ㅣ

Below, we’ll teach you all the letters of the Korean alphabet, the order of the alphabet, and association.

• 1 Quick Summary
• 2 Introduction to Hangul as the Korean Writing System
• 3 Korean Consonants Chart
• 4 Korean Vowels Chart
• 5 Korean Alphabet Pronunciation
• 6.1 Order of the Korean alphabet letters
• 7 What to do after learning the Korean Alphabet A to Z
• 8 Conclusion

Quick Summary

✅ Hangul (The Korean alphabet) consists of 24 basic letters—14 consonants and 10 vowels.

✅ The order of Hangul called 가나다 순 (ganada sun) starts with consonants followed by vowels

✅ Using associations such as ㅁ (m) – Like “m” in “mail” can help you remember the sounds easily

Introduction to Hangul as the Korean Writing System

Hangeul (한글 | also romanized as Hangul) is a unique and scientific alphabet. It is the official writing system used in South Korea. It was created during the reign of King Sejong the Great in the 15th century to enhance literacy among the people who thought Chinese characters difficult and inaccessible.

The Hangul alphabet has 24 basic letters, including 14 consonants and 10 vowels. These letters are combined into syllable blocks that form Korean words. A syllable block includes at least one consonant and one vowel, and it may also include the last consonant.

Korean Consonants Chart

Here is a chart of the 19 Korean consonants.

It includes audio to help with your pronunciation. It also has romanization to help with knowing the closest approximation of the sound in the English alphabet.

Korean Vowels Chart

Here is a chart of the 21 Korean vowels.

You can listen to the audio for the correct pronunciation. The romanization helps with knowing the closest approximation of the sound in the English alphabet.

Korean Alphabet Pronunciation

Here is the basic pronunciation of Korean alphabet letters. The Korean letters aren’t an exact 1-1 match with the English letters. We’re giving you the closest sound approximation .

For example, the ㄱ is similar to a g/k, but we’ll use “g” for simplicity.

• ㄱ (g) – “ g ” in “ g un” (End of syllable: “ k “)
• ㄴ (n) – “ n ” in “ n ortheast”
• ㄷ (d) – “ d ‘ in “door” (End of syllable: “ t “)
• ㄹ (l) – “ l ” in “ l adder” (End of syllable: “ l “)
• ㅁ (m) – “ m ” in “ m ail”
• ㅂ (b/p) – “ b ” in “ b ed” (End of syllable: “ p “)
• ㅅ (s) – “ s ” in “seashell,” when followed by vowelㅣ(i), sounds like “sh.” (End of syllable: “ t “)
• ㅇ (ng) – Silent at the beginning of a syllable (End of syllable: “ ng ” in “si ng “)
• ㅈ (j) – “ j ” in “ j ar” (End of syllable: “ t “)
• ㅊ (ch) – “ ch ” in “ ch urch”
• ㅋ (k) – “ k ” in “ k ey”
• ㅌ (t) – “ t ” in “ t eeth”
• ㅍ (p) – “ p ” in “ p i (π)”
• ㅎ (h) – “ h ” in “ h at”

Note that the actual pronunciation of the consonants can vary based on the position and the surrounding letters.

• ㅏ (a) – “ a ” in “f a ther”
• ㅑ (ya) – “ ya ” in “ ya cht”
• ㅓ (eo) – “ u ” in “ u mbrella”
• ㅕ (yeo) – “ yu ” in “ yu mmy”
• ㅗ (o) – “ o ” in “ o ld”
• ㅛ (yo) – “ yo ” in “ yo gurt”
• ㅜ (u) – “ ew ” in “n ew “
• ㅠ (yu) – “ u ” in “ u nicorn”
• ㅡ (eu) – “ oo ” in “br oo k”
• ㅣ (i) – “ ee ” in “tr ee “

What is the Korean alphabet from A to Z?

The Korean alphabet has its unique sounds so they don’t exactly match the English alphabet. However, you can approximate some of the English letters using the Korean alphabet.

To learn how to pronounce the Korean alphabet, we don’t recommend relying on corresponding sounds from the English letters. Instead, use the associations, such as “mail for ㅁ”.

You can use the English letters as a rough guide, but they shouldn’t be your go-to source for pronunciation.

The Korean alphabet from A to Z is:

Order of the Korean alphabet letters

The order of Hangeul (Korean alphabet) is called 가나다 순 (ganada sun). 가나다 is equivalent to “ABC” in English. 가나다 is made of the first three consonants, ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, combined with the first vowel in order, ㅏ.

The Korean alphabetical order separates the consonants and vowels. The consonant letters come first, then the vowel letters.

Here is the order of the basic consonants:

Here is the order of the basic vowels:

The Korean alphabet also has double consonants, which are a combination of two basic consonants. There are also vowel combinations, which are made up of two basic vowels. These letters make different sounds that basic letters don’t.

Here are the double consonants in order:

Here are the vowel combinations in order:

ㅐ ㅒ ㅔ ㅖ ㅘ ㅙ ㅚ ㅝ ㅞ ㅟ ㅢ

Below is a table for the Korean alphabet in order.

We recommend learning about them in this order:

Basic Consonants

Basic Vowels

Double Consonants

Vowel Combinations

What is a in Korean?

“a” is ㅏ. This is a vowel called 아 (a). 

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “f a ther” using the Korean script, you’d use ㅏ.

What is b in Korean?

“b” is ㅂ. This is a consonant called 비읍 (bieup). 

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ b ar” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㅂ.

What is c in Korean?

“c” is ㅋ. This is a consonant called 키읔 (kieuk).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ c ar” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㅋ.

What is d in Korean?

“d” is ㄷ. This is a consonant called 디귿 (digeut)

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ d oor” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㄷ.

What is e in Korean?

“e” is ㅔ. This is a vowel called 에 (e).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ e gg” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㅔ.

What is f in Korean?

“f” is ㅍ. This is a consonant called 피읖 (pieup).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ f ar” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㅍ.

What is g in Korean?

“g” is ㄱ. This is a consonant called 기역 (giyeok).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ g un” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㄱ.

What is h in Korean?

“h” is ㅎ. This is a consonant called 히읕 (hieut).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ h at” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㅎ.

What is i in Korean?

“i” is ㅣ. This is a vowel called 이 (i).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “b ee ” using the Korean script, you’d use ㅣ.

What is j in Korean?

“j” is ㅈ. This is a consonant called 지읏 (jieut).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ j ug” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㅈ.

What is k in Korean?

“k” is ㅋ. This is a consonant called 키읔 (kieuk).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ k ite” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㅋ.

What is l in Korean?

“l” is ㄹ. This is a consonant called 리을 (rieul).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ l ove” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㄹ.

What is m in Korean?

“m” is ㅁ. This is a consonant called 미음 (mieum).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ m ail” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㅁ.

What is n in Korean?

“n” is ㄴ. This is a consonant called 니은 (nieun).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ n ortheast” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㄴ.

What is o in Korean?

“o” is ㅗ. This is a vowel called 오 (o).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “g o ” using the Korean script, you’d use ㅗ.

What is p in Korean?

“p” is ㅍ. This is a consonant called 피읖 (pieup).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ p op” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㅍ.

What is q in Korean?

“q” is ㅋ. This is a consonant called 키읔 (kieuk).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ q ueen” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㅋ.

What is r in Korean?

“r” is ㄹ. This is a consonant called 리을 (rieul).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ r ed” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㄹ.

What is s in Korean?

“s” is ㅅ. This is a consonant called 시옷 (siot).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ s eashell” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㅅ.

What is t in Korean?

“t” is ㅌ. This is a consonant called 티읕 (tieut).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ t eeth” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㅌ.

What is u in Korean?

“u” is ㅜ. This is a vowel called 우 (u).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “bl ue ” using the Korean script, you’d use ㅜ.

What is v in Korean?

“v” is ㅂ. This is a consonant called 비읍 (bieup). The “v” sound is typically represented with a “b” sound in Korean.

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ v an” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㅂ.

What is w in Korean?

“w” can be written as a combination of vowels, such as ㅘ (와| wa), ㅝ (워| wo), ㅟ (위| wi), ㅚ, (외| oe), or ㅙ (왜| wae).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ wa ffle” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㅘ.

What is x in Korean?

“x” is ㅈ (지읒| jieut) or -ㄱ스 (-kseu).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ Xerox ” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㅈ and end with -ㄱ스 , like 제록스 (jerokseu).

What is y in Korean?

“y” is ㅣ. This is a vowel called 이 (i).

“y” is usually combined with vowels, creating these syllables:ㅑ (야 | ya), ㅕ (여| yeo), ㅛ (요| yo), or ㅠ (유| yu).

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ y acht” using the Korean script, you’d start with 야.

What is z in Korean?

“z” is ㅈ. This is a consonant called 지읒 (jieut). The “z” sound is typically represented by a “j” sound in the Korean language.

Example: If you wanted to sound out the English word “ z ero” using the Korean script, you’d start with ㅈ.

What to do after learning the Korean Alphabet A to Z

Once you have mastered the Korean characters from A to Z, here are the next steps that you can take:

• Korean Alphabet – Learn the associations and read all letters
• Korean Alphabet Pronunciation – Learn the correct pronunciation of Korean letters and words
• Speak Korean – Start speaking basic Korean

Today, you’ve learned the basics of Hangeul, how to remember them effectively, and how to write English sounds using the Korean script.

Reading and writing Korean words will become a lot easier. You should now be able to recognize these Korean letters as you see them in Korean products, menus, or K-Dramas that you watch.

Remember to use the associations to remember the alphabet sounds instead of the English letters. For example, use “ m ail” for ㅁ, not “m.”

What questions do you have about the Korean alphabet from A to Z? Let us know in the comments below!

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2 thoughts on “Korean Alphabet A to Z – How Hangeul sounds like in English”

it was very helpful but how do i practice it and what korean learning materials(books, apps) would i need

Hi Zoe! Glad to hear you found the article helpful. ^^ To practice the Korean Alphabet, you might want to check out our article on How to Pronounce Korean Alphabet – Mastering Hangeul Sounds . For Korean learning materials like books and apps, our articles on Best Apps to Learn Korean and Best Korean Textbooks for Language Learning should help you with that. Happy learning! ^^

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Paul Ryan says he won't vote for Donald Trump: 'Character is too important'

WASHINGTON – Former House Speaker Paul Ryan this week doubled down on his claim that he will not vote for former President Donald Trump this November, reasserting his opposition to the former president just two months before he's set to accept the Republican nomination in Milwaukee.

"Not from me," Ryan told Yahoo Finance Tuesday when asked if he'd vote for Trump in November. "Character is too important to me, and it's a job that requires the kind of character he just doesn't have."

Ryan said he'd write-in another Republican's name, as he said he did in 2020.

His comments reaffirm those he made to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network, last year, when he said he would not support Trump if he became the Republican nominee for president. Ryan at the time said he did not think Trump would become the nominee "because everyone knows we’ll lose the election if we nominate this guy again.”

Now, however, Trump has effectively secured the Republican nomination and is set to meet President Joe Biden in a rematch of the 2020 election. His doubling down comes as other Republicans who once rejected Trump's candidacy, including Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos , have reversed course and endorsed the former president.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

Ryan in recent years has been an outspoken critic of Trump. In an interview with the Journal Sentinel last year, he blamed Trump for Republicans' underwhelming midterm results in 2022 that gave them the slim majority in the House that has proven difficult to manage.

“We can have a prosperous country and a debt-free future. We can reinvent upward mobility and reinvent the American idea for the 21st century if we get the right policies in place,” Ryan told the Journal Sentinel at the time. “And I don't think we'll accomplish that if we stick with a personality based populism that has proven now for three election cycles to lose us elections.”

In his remarks Tuesday, made at the the 2024 Milken Institute Global Conference, Ryan said he disagrees with Biden on policy and would rather write-in another Republican's name. "I don't know who yet," he said.

In Wisconsin, Biden and Trump are locked neck-and-neck. A Marquette University Law Poll released last month showed Trump leading Biden 51%-49% among both registered voters and likely voters. And both candidates have visited Wisconsin in recent weeks.

Trump rallied supporters in Waukesha last week on a off-day from his New York hush money trial. Biden, meanwhile, is scheduled to be in Racine Wednesday to highlight the expansion of a Microsoft data center .

Vice President Kamala Harris plans to visit Milwaukee next week.

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Thousands Believe Covid Vaccines Harmed Them. Is Anyone Listening?

All vaccines have at least occasional side effects. But people who say they were injured by Covid vaccines believe their cases have been ignored.

Shaun Barcavage, 54, a nurse practitioner in New York City, said that ever since his first Covid shot, standing up has sent his heart racing. Credit... Hannah Yoon for The New York Times

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By Apoorva Mandavilli

Apoorva Mandavilli spent more than a year talking to dozens of experts in vaccine science, policymakers and people who said they had experienced serious side effects after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine.

• Published May 3, 2024 Updated May 4, 2024

Within minutes of getting the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine, Michelle Zimmerman felt pain racing from her left arm up to her ear and down to her fingertips. Within days, she was unbearably sensitive to light and struggled to remember simple facts.

She was 37, with a Ph.D. in neuroscience, and until then could ride her bicycle 20 miles, teach a dance class and give a lecture on artificial intelligence, all in the same day. Now, more than three years later, she lives with her parents. Eventually diagnosed with brain damage, she cannot work, drive or even stand for long periods of time.

“When I let myself think about the devastation of what this has done to my life, and how much I’ve lost, sometimes it feels even too hard to comprehend,” said Dr. Zimmerman, who believes her injury is due to a contaminated vaccine batch .

The Covid vaccines, a triumph of science and public health, are estimated to have prevented millions of hospitalizations and deaths . Yet even the best vaccines produce rare but serious side effects . And the Covid vaccines have been given to more than 270 million people in the United States, in nearly 677 million doses .

Dr. Zimmerman’s account is among the more harrowing, but thousands of Americans believe they suffered serious side effects following Covid vaccination. As of April, just over 13,000 vaccine-injury compensation claims have been filed with the federal government — but to little avail. Only 19 percent have been reviewed. Only 47 of those were deemed eligible for compensation, and only 12 have been paid out, at an average of about $3,600 .

Some scientists fear that patients with real injuries are being denied help and believe that more needs to be done to clarify the possible risks.

“At least long Covid has been somewhat recognized,” said Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist and vaccine expert at Yale University. But people who say they have post-vaccination injuries are “just completely ignored and dismissed and gaslighted,” she added.

In interviews and email exchanges conducted over several months, federal health officials insisted that serious side effects were extremely rare and that their surveillance efforts were more than sufficient to detect patterns of adverse events.

“Hundreds of millions of people in the United States have safely received Covid vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history,” Jeff Nesbit, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services, said in an emailed statement.

But in a recent interview, Dr. Janet Woodcock, a longtime leader of the Food and Drug Administration, who retired in February, said she believed that some recipients had experienced uncommon but “serious” and “life-changing” reactions beyond those described by federal agencies.

“I feel bad for those people,” said Dr. Woodcock, who became the F.D.A.’s acting commissioner in January 2021 as the vaccines were rolling out. “I believe their suffering should be acknowledged, that they have real problems, and they should be taken seriously.”

“I’m disappointed in myself,” she added. “I did a lot of things I feel very good about, but this is one of the few things I feel I just didn’t bring it home.”

Federal officials and independent scientists face a number of challenges in identifying potential vaccine side effects.

The nation’s fragmented health care system complicates detection of very rare side effects, a process that depends on an analysis of huge amounts of data. That’s a difficult task when a patient may be tested for Covid at Walgreens, get vaccinated at CVS, go to a local clinic for minor ailments and seek care at a hospital for serious conditions. Each place may rely on different health record systems.

There is no central repository of vaccine recipients, nor of medical records, and no easy to way to pool these data. Reports to the largest federal database of so-called adverse events can be made by anyone, about anything. It’s not even clear what officials should be looking for.

“I mean, you’re not going to find ‘brain fog’ in the medical record or claims data, and so then you’re not going to find” a signal that it may be linked to vaccination, Dr. Woodcock said. If such a side effect is not acknowledged by federal officials, “it’s because it doesn’t have a good research definition,” she added. “It isn’t, like, malevolence on their part.”

The government’s understaffed compensation fund has paid so little because it officially recognizes few side effects for Covid vaccines. And vaccine supporters, including federal officials, worry that even a whisper of possible side effects feeds into misinformation spread by a vitriolic anti-vaccine movement.

‘I’m Not Real’

Patients who believe they experienced serious side effects say they have received little support or acknowledgment.

Shaun Barcavage, 54, a nurse practitioner in New York City who has worked on clinical trials for H.I.V. and Covid, said that ever since his first Covid shot, merely standing up sent his heart racing — a symptom suggestive of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome , a neurological disorder that some studies have linked to both Covid and, much less often, vaccination .

He also experienced stinging pain in his eyes, mouth and genitals, which has abated, and tinnitus, which has not.

“I can’t get the government to help me,” Mr. Barcavage said of his fruitless pleas to federal agencies and elected representatives. “I am told I’m not real. I’m told I’m rare. I’m told I’m coincidence.”

Renee France, 49, a physical therapist in Seattle, developed Bell’s palsy — a form of facial paralysis, usually temporary — and a dramatic rash that neatly bisected her face. Bell’s palsy is a known side effect of other vaccines, and it has been linked to Covid vaccination in some studies.

But Dr. France said doctors were dismissive of any connection to the Covid vaccines. The rash, a bout of shingles, debilitated her for three weeks, so Dr. France reported it to federal databases twice.

“I thought for sure someone would reach out, but no one ever did,” she said.

Similar sentiments were echoed in interviews, conducted over more than a year, with 30 people who said they had been harmed by Covid shots. They described a variety of symptoms following vaccination, some neurological, some autoimmune, some cardiovascular.

All said they had been turned away by physicians, told their symptoms were psychosomatic, or labeled anti-vaccine by family and friends — despite the fact that they supported vaccines.

Even leading experts in vaccine science have run up against disbelief and ambivalence.

Dr. Gregory Poland, 68, editor in chief of the journal Vaccine, said that a loud whooshing sound in his ears had accompanied every moment since his first shot, but that his entreaties to colleagues at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to explore the phenomenon, tinnitus, had led nowhere.

He received polite responses to his many emails, but “I just don’t get any sense of movement,” he said.

“If they have done studies, those studies should be published,” Dr. Poland added. In despair that he might “never hear silence again,” he has sought solace in meditation and his religious faith.

Dr. Buddy Creech, 50, who led several Covid vaccine trials at Vanderbilt University, said his tinnitus and racing heart lasted about a week after each shot. “It’s very similar to what I experienced during acute Covid, back in March of 2020,” Dr. Creech said.

Research may ultimately find that most reported side effects are unrelated to the vaccine, he acknowledged. Many can be caused by Covid itself.

“Regardless, when our patients experience a side effect that may or may not be related to the vaccine, we owe it to them to investigate that as completely as we can,” Dr. Creech said.

Federal health officials say they do not believe that the Covid vaccines caused the illnesses described by patients like Mr. Barcavage, Dr. Zimmerman and Dr. France. The vaccines may cause transient reactions, such as swelling, fatigue and fever, according to the C.D.C., but the agency has documented only four serious but rare side effects .

Two are associated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is no longer available in the United States: Guillain-Barré syndrome , a known side effect of other vaccines , including the flu shot; and a blood-clotting disorder.

The C.D.C. also links mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna to heart inflammation, or myocarditis, especially in boys and young men. And the agency warns of anaphylaxis, or severe allergic reaction, which can occur after any vaccination.

Listening for Signals

Agency scientists are monitoring large databases containing medical information on millions of Americans for patterns that might suggest a hitherto unknown side effect of vaccination, said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, director of the C.D.C.’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

“We toe the line by reporting the signals that we think are real signals and reporting them as soon as we identify them as signals,” he said. The agency’s systems for monitoring vaccine safety are “pretty close” to ideal, he said.

Those national surveillance efforts include the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). It is the largest database, but also the least reliable: Reports of side effects can be submitted by anyone and are not vetted, so they may be subject to bias or manipulation.

The system contains roughly one million reports regarding Covid vaccination, the vast majority for mild events, according to the C.D.C.

Federal researchers also comb through databases that combine electronic health records and insurance claims on tens of millions of Americans. The scientists monitor the data for 23 conditions that may occur following Covid vaccination. Officials remain alert to others that may pop up, Dr. Daskalakis said.

But there are gaps, some experts noted. The Covid shots administered at mass vaccination sites were not recorded in insurance claims databases, for example, and medical records in the United States are not centralized.

“It’s harder to see signals when you have so many people, and things are happening in different parts of the country, and they’re not all collected in the same system,” said Rebecca Chandler, a vaccine safety expert at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

An expert panel convened by the National Academies concluded in April that for the vast majority of side effects, there was not enough data to accept or reject a link.

Asked at a recent congressional hearing whether the nation’s vaccine-safety surveillance was sufficient, Dr. Peter Marks, director of the F.D.A.’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said, “I do believe we could do better.”

In some countries with centralized health care systems, officials have actively sought out reports of serious side effects of Covid vaccines and reached conclusions that U.S. health authorities have not.

In Hong Kong, the government analyzed centralized medical records of patients after vaccination and paid people to come forward with problems. The strategy identified “a lot of mild cases that other countries would not otherwise pick up,” said Ian Wong, a researcher at the University of Hong Kong who led the nation’s vaccine safety efforts.

That included the finding that in rare instances — about seven per million doses — the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine triggered a bout of shingles serious enough to require hospitalization.

The European Medicines Agency has linked the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to facial paralysis, tingling sensations and numbness. The E.M.A. also counts tinnitus as a side effect of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, although the American health agencies do not. There are more than 17,000 reports of tinnitus following Covid vaccination in VAERS.

Are the two linked? It’s not clear. As many as one in four adults has some form of tinnitus. Stress, anxiety, grief and aging can lead to the condition, as can infections like Covid itself and the flu.

There is no test or scan for tinnitus, and scientists cannot easily study it because the inner ear is tiny, delicate and encased in bone, said Dr. Konstantina Stankovic, an otolaryngologist at Stanford University.

Still, an analysis of health records from nearly 2.6 million people in the United States found that about 0.04 percent , or about 1,000, were diagnosed with tinnitus within three weeks of their first mRNA shot. In March, researchers in Australia published a study linking tinnitus and vertigo to the vaccines .

The F.D.A. is monitoring reports of tinnitus, but “at this time, the available evidence does not suggest a causal association with the Covid-19 vaccines,” the agency said in a statement.

Despite surveillance efforts, U.S. officials were not the first to identify a significant Covid vaccine side effect: myocarditis in young people receiving mRNA vaccines. It was Israeli authorities who first raised the alarm in April 2021. Officials in the United States said at the time that they had not seen a link.

On May 22, 2021, news broke that the C.D.C. was investigating a “relatively few” cases of myocarditis. By June 23, the number of myocarditis reports in VAERS had risen to more than 1,200 — a hint that it is important to tell doctors and patients what to look for.

Later analyses showed that the risk for myocarditis and pericarditis, a related condition, is highest after a second dose of an mRNA Covid vaccine in adolescent males aged 12 to 17 years.

In many people, vaccine-related myocarditis is transient. But some patients continue to experience pain, breathlessness and depression, and some show persistent changes on heart scans . The C.D.C. has said there were no confirmed deaths related to myocarditis, but in fact there have been several accounts of deaths reported post-vaccination .

Pervasive Misinformation

The rise of the anti-vaccine movement has made it difficult for scientists, in and out of government, to candidly address potential side effects, some experts said. Much of the narrative on the purported dangers of Covid vaccines is patently false, or at least exaggerated, cooked up by savvy anti-vaccine campaigns.

Questions about Covid vaccine safety are core to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign. Citing debunked theories about altered DNA, Florida’s surgeon general has called for a halt to Covid vaccination in the state.

“The sheer nature of misinformation, the scale of misinformation, is staggering, and anything will be twisted to make it seem like it’s not just a devastating side effect but proof of a massive cover-up,” said Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, a vice dean at Johns Hopkins University.

Among the hundreds of millions of Americans who were immunized for Covid, some number would have had heart attacks or strokes anyway. Some women would have miscarried. How to distinguish those caused by the vaccine from those that are coincidences? The only way to resolve the question is intense research .

But the National Institutes of Health is conducting virtually no studies on Covid vaccine safety, several experts noted. William Murphy, a cancer researcher who worked at the N.I.H. for 12 years, has been prodding federal health officials to initiate these studies since 2021.

The officials each responded with “that very tired mantra: ‘But the virus is worse,’” Dr. Murphy recalled. “Yes, the virus is worse, but that doesn’t obviate doing research to make sure that there may be other options.”

A deeper understanding of possible side effects, and who is at risk for them, could have implications for the design of future vaccines, or may indicate that for some young and healthy people, the benefit of Covid shots may no longer outweigh the risks — as some European countries have determined.

Thorough research might also speed assistance to thousands of Americans who say they were injured.

The federal government has long run the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program , designed to compensate people who suffer injuries after vaccination. Established more than three decades ago, the program sets no limit on the amounts awarded to people found to have been harmed.

But Covid vaccines are not covered by that fund because Congress has not made them subject to the excise tax that pays for it. Some lawmakers have introduced bills to make the change.

Instead, claims regarding Covid vaccines go to the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program . Intended for public health emergencies, this program has narrow criteria to pay out and sets a limit of $50,000, with stringent standards of proof.

It requires applicants to prove within a year of the injury that it was “the direct result” of getting the Covid vaccine, based on “compelling, reliable, valid, medical, and scientific evidence.”

The program had only four staff members at the beginning of the pandemic, and now has 35 people evaluating claims. Still, it has reviewed only a fraction of the 13,000 claims filed, and has paid out only a dozen.

Dr. Ilka Warshawsky, a 58-year-old pathologist, said she lost all hearing in her right ear after a Covid booster shot. But hearing loss is not a recognized side effect of Covid vaccination.

The compensation program for Covid vaccines sets a high bar for proof, she said, yet offers little information on how to meet it: “These adverse events can be debilitating and life-altering, and so it’s very upsetting that they’re not acknowledged or addressed.”

Dr. Zimmerman, the neuroscientist, submitted her application in October 2021 and provided dozens of supporting medical documents. She received a claim number only in January 2023.

In adjudicating her claim for workers’ compensation, Washington State officials accepted that Covid vaccination caused her injury, but she has yet to get a decision from the federal program.

One of her therapists recently told her she might never be able to live independently again.

“That felt like a devastating blow,” Dr. Zimmerman said. “But I’m trying not to lose hope there will someday be a treatment and a way to cover it.”

Apoorva Mandavilli is a reporter focused on science and global health. She was a part of the team that won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for coverage of the pandemic. More about Apoorva Mandavilli

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U.S. soldier detained in Russia and accused of stealing, officials say

A U.S. soldier was detained in Russia last week, a U.S. Army spokesperson said in a statement.

The soldier, Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, had been stationed in South Korea and traveled to Russia on his own, not on official business, according to four U.S. officials.

He had finished his deployment and was heading back to the U.S. when he made a side trip to Vladivostok, Russia, to visit a woman he was romantically involved with, officials said. They added that he had traveled there without permission from his superiors and that he is being held in pretrial confinement.

The soldier is accused of stealing from a woman, the officials said. It was not immediately clear whether it was the same woman he was visiting.

The soldier was detained Thursday, U.S. Army spokesperson Cynthia O. Smith said in a statement.

Smith said the soldier was apprehended in Vladivostok "on charges of criminal misconduct."

"The Russian Federation notified the U.S. Department of State of the criminal detention in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations," Smith said. "The Army notified his family and the U.S. Department of State is providing appropriate consular support to the Soldier in Russia. Given the sensitivity of this matter, we are unable to provide additional details at this time."

Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said he is "deeply concerned" by reports that a soldier was detained in Russia."Putin has a long history of holding American citizens hostage," McCaul said in a post shared on X . "A warning to all Americans—as the State Department has said, it is not safe to travel to Russia."

Current travel guidance from the U.S. State Department restricts travel for citizens to Russia. "Exercise increased caution due to the risk of wrongful detentions," according to the State Department advisory. The Defense Department also restricts travel for Pentagon personnel.

Black is one of a number of Americans detained in Russia, including several civilians.

Arrests of Americans in Russia have increased as the relationship between the two countries has sunk to Cold War lows, The Associated Press reported . The U.S. has accused Russia of targeting Americans and using them as bargaining chips, according to the AP.

Among the most prominent U.S. citizens to be detained are Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was jailed last March , and former Marine Paul Whelan, who was arrested in 2018. The U.S. government has said that both Gershkovich and Whelan are wrongfully detained.

WNBA star Brittney Griner spent 10 months in Russian penal colonies for drug-related charges but was released  in a  rare prisoner exchange  for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in 2022.

Courtney Kube is a correspondent covering national security and the military for the NBC News Investigative Unit.

Mosheh Gains is a Pentagon producer for NBC News.

CNN values your feedback

Acid attack leaves malaysia soccer star in ‘critical but stable condition,’ officials say.

A star player for Malaysia ’s soccer team is in “critical but stable condition” after an acid attack that left him with fourth-degree burns, officials said late Tuesday.

Malaysian soccer officials said Faisal Halim’s movement and speech had been affected and he would require more surgery.

On May 5, the 26-year-old was splashed with concentrated sulfuric acid in front of a shopping mall outside the capital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian police reported.

Related article Colombian women’s rights activist attacked with acid

Halim, who plays as an attacker for Selangor Football Club as well as Malaysia’s national team, was taken to a nearby private hospital in the capital, while still conscious. He had suffered severe burns to his face, neck, shoulders, hands and chest, officials add.

Specialist doctors on Tuesday concluded that Halim had suffered fourth-degree burns, not second-degree burns as previously thought, said officials from the Football Association of Selangor.

“Faisal will now undergo at least two more surgeries as determined by doctors. Currently he is still in the ICU and is being closely monitored by specialists,” deputy president of the association Shahril Mokhtar told the Bernama national news outlet, adding that Halim’s movement and speech had been affected by the attack.

“The left side of his body and arm are severely affected, which affects his movement,” Mokhtar said. “It’s quite bad, he can’t really feel his left arm and couldn’t communicate clearly after surgery. He’s feeling stiff and is unable to talk well.”

Fourth-degree burns are the most serious classification, where the injury has gone through skin and underlying tissue as well as deeper tissue, even as far as the bone.

Photos of Halim after the attack circulated widely online and left many in shock. He was seen sitting down, covered with a towel, looking stunned – while surrounded by police officers and medics. Large areas of skin had also peeled off from the side of his arms and torso.

It is the second violent attack on a Malaysian soccer player this month. Last week, another national team player, 25-year-old Akhyar Rashid, was attacked by armed robbers at his condominium in downtown Kuala Lumpur after returning from a training session, and suffered a 4 cm (1.5-inch) gash to his forehead, according to police.

Motive still unknown

Reports of acid attacks are rare in Malaysia. The motive behind the attack is still unknown, Malaysia police say, adding that investigations are currently ongoing. Two men – one in his late 30s, the other in his 20s – had been detained in connection with the attack on Halim, police add.

CNN has reached out to several agencies including the Football Association of Malaysia, the country’s national governing body, for additional comment about Halim’s condition and about additional safety measures for national team players following the incident.

Malaysian politicians, including Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, have raised concerns about the attack. Anwar, who had visited Halim in hospital, condemned the attack and said he wished the player a speedy recovery and “return to football.”

Halim made his debut for Malaysia’s national team in 2019. Since then, he has helped the team qualify for prominent regional tournaments including the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar — where he scored in an unlikely draw with giants South Korea. Late last year, he also scored the winning goal in a World Cup qualifying match against Kyrgyzstan.

Selangor finished second in last season’s Malaysia Super Liga. The new season starts this month.

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