Learn Hangul: the Korean alphabet, letter by letter
Hangul is the easiest part of Korean. It was designed in 1443 as a phonetic alphabet, so every letter maps to one sound and letters stack into syllable blocks that you read left to right, top to bottom. Most learners can read simple words within a few hours.
This page lists all 40 letters β 14 basic consonants, 5 double consonants, 10 basic vowels and 11 compound vowels β with the letter name, its sound and the official romanization, then shows how blocks are assembled and how final consonants change sound. Finish with the games at the bottom to make the shapes automatic.
Hangul in five facts
Created by King Sejong and his scholars in 1443 and promulgated in 1446 as Hunminjeongeum. 24 basic letters, 40 in total with doubled and compound forms. Consonant shapes copy the position of the tongue and lips; vowel shapes combine three strokes for heaven (β’), earth (γ ‘) and human (γ £). Letters are grouped into syllable blocks instead of written in a line. Hangul Day is 9 October, a national holiday in Korea.
14 basic consonants
Each consonant has a name (used when spelling aloud) and a sound. Several consonants are softer at the start of a word and firmer between vowels, which is why γ± is romanized g or k.
| Letter | Name | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| γ± | κΈ°μg / k | g as in go; k at the end of a syllable |
| γ΄ | λμn | n as in no |
| γ· | λκ·Ώd / t | d as in do; t at the end of a syllable |
| γΉ | 리μr / l | a light r between vowels, l at the end of a syllable |
| γ | λ―Έμm | m as in me |
| γ | λΉμb / p | b as in bay; p at the end of a syllable |
| γ | μμ·s | s as in see; sh before γ £ |
| γ | μ΄μβ / ng | silent at the start of a syllable; ng as in sing at the end |
| γ | μ§μj | j as in jam |
| γ | μΉμch | ch as in chair, with a puff of air |
| γ | ν€μk | k as in kite, with a puff of air |
| γ | ν°μt | t as in tie, with a puff of air |
| γ | νΌμp | p as in pie, with a puff of air |
| γ | νμh | h as in hat |
5 double consonants
Written twice, pronounced with tension and no puff of air β closer to the sound after an s in English (the k in βskyβ) than to a hard consonant.
| Letter | Name | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| γ² | μκΈ°μkk | tense k, like the k in sky |
| γΈ | μλκ·Ώtt | tense t, like the t in stay |
| γ | μλΉμpp | tense p, like the p in spy |
| γ | μμμ·ss | tense s, a sharp hiss |
| γ | μμ§μjj | tense j, no puff of air |
10 basic vowels
Vowels are written to the right of or below the consonant. Vertical vowels (γ γ γ £ β¦) go to the right; horizontal vowels (γ γ γ ‘) go underneath.
| Letter | Name | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| γ | μa | a as in father |
| γ | μΌya | ya as in yard |
| γ | μ΄eo | eo β the u in cup, with rounded lips |
| γ | μ¬yeo | yeo β y plus the sound above |
| γ | μ€o | o as in go, lips rounded |
| γ | μyo | yo as in yoga |
| γ | μ°u | u as in moon |
| γ | μ yu | yu as in you |
| γ ‘ | μΌeu | eu β an unrounded u, lips flat as if smiling |
| γ £ | μ΄i | i as in machine |
11 compound vowels
Combinations of the basic vowels. In modern Seoul speech γ and γ sound the same, as do γ and γ β do not worry about hearing the difference.
| Letter | Name | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| γ | μ ae | ae β e as in bed |
| γ | μyae | yae β y plus e as in bed |
| γ | μe | e as in bed (same as γ today) |
| γ | μye | ye as in yes |
| γ | μwa | wa as in water |
| γ | μwae | wae β w plus e as in bed |
| γ | μΈoe | oe β sounds like we |
| γ | μwo | wo as in wonder |
| γ | μ¨we | we as in wet |
| γ | μwi | wi as in week |
| γ ’ | μui | ui β eu quickly followed by i; after a consonant it is just i |
How syllable blocks work
A block always starts with a consonant (use silent γ if the syllable begins with a vowel), then a vowel, then optionally a final consonant called batchim. Read each block as one syllable.
| Block | Letters | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| λ | γ΄ + γ | na |
| ν | γ + γ + γ΄ | han |
| κΈ | γ± + γ ‘ + γΉ | geul |
| λ°₯ | γ + γ + γ | bap |
| μ | γ + γ + γ | wang |
Batchim: the 7 final sounds
Whatever consonant sits at the bottom of a block, only seven sounds are possible in that position. This is why μ· (clothes) and μ« would sound identical, and why romanization writes a final γ as t.
| Final sound | Written as |
|---|---|
| γ±k | γ± γ γ² |
| γ΄n | γ΄ |
| γ·t | γ· γ γ γ γ γ γ |
| γΉl | γΉ |
| γ m | γ |
| γ p | γ γ |
| γ ng | γ |
Practise Hangul with free games
Reading Hangul becomes automatic through repetition, not memorization. These games from WeBring Korean drill stroke order, letter sorting, block assembly and dictation in a few minutes a day.
A three-day plan
- Day 1: the 14 basic consonants and 10 basic vowels. Trace each one and say its sound. Read the syllable examples above.
- Day 2: double consonants, compound vowels and batchim. Read menu items, station names and brand names you already know.
- Day 3: dictation. Listen and type in the games, then read a short K-pop lyric or a subtitle line out loud.
Hangul FAQ
- How long does it take to learn Hangul?
- Most learners read simple words after two to four hours and read comfortably within a week of daily practice. Reading quickly takes longer, but the alphabet itself is small and regular.
- Is Hangul the same as Korean?
- Hangul is the alphabet; Korean is the language. Learning Hangul lets you read and pronounce words but not understand them β that is the next step.
- Do I need to learn Hanja (Chinese characters)?
- No. Modern Korean is written almost entirely in Hangul. Hanja appears in some newspapers and names, but everyday reading does not require it.
- Why does the same letter get romanized two ways?
- Because its sound changes with position: γ± is g at the start of a word and k at the end of a syllable. Revised Romanization writes what you hear.
- Should I learn to write by hand or just type?
- Trace the letters at least once β it fixes the shapes in memory β then practise typing, since that is how you will use Korean most.
Practice with native audio and quizzes on WeBring Korean β free.
Romanization follows the official Revised Romanization of Korean. Content reviewed on 2026-09-12.