🚀 Learn Hangul Online #2: Consonants & Your First Words

Master just 10 core consonants today and unlock the ability to read real Korean words like Nara (Country) and Gogi (Meat).

Learn Korean consonants for beginners with mouth shapes 2026

1. The Anchor Set: 10 Core Consonants

Think of these as the visual anchors of the alphabet. Each shape mimics the organ used to make the sound.

ㄱ (g/k) - Like a Gun
ㄴ (n) - Like a Nose
ㄷ (d/t) - Like a Door
ㄹ (r/l) - Like a Rattlesnake
ㅁ (m) - Like a Mouth
ㅂ (b/p) - Like a Bucket
ㅅ (s) - Like a Summit
ㅇ (silent/ng) - A Placeholder
ㅈ (j) - Like a Jug
ㅎ (h) - A person with a Hat

2. Sound Secrets: Minimal Pairs

To sound like a native, you must feel the Air Flow.

ㄱ vs. ㅋ: ㄱ is soft. ㅋ is like a sudden puff of air (aspirated).
ㄷ vs. ㅌ: ㄷ is a gentle tap. ㅌ is a strong "T".
ㅂ vs. ㅍ: ㅂ is soft. ㅍ is a powerful "P" pop.

Practice drill: Say 가 (ga) → 카 (ka) while holding your hand in front of your mouth. You should feel air only for 카!

3. Read Your First Words

Combine your 10 consonants with the vowels ㅏ (a) and ㅣ (i).

Hangul	Romanization	Meaning
나라	Na-ra	Country
고기	Go-gi	Meat
바다	Ba-da	Sea
사과	Sa-gwa	Apple

💡 Teacher Hoon's Pro Tips

1. The Silent "ㅇ": Remember, a vowel never stands alone. If a block starts with a vowel sound (like "a"), you must put ㅇ as a placeholder: 아.

2. Consonants are Organs: The shape of ㄴ actually looks like the side profile of your tongue hitting the roof of your mouth. Hangul is the most scientific alphabet in the world for this reason!

FAQ: Consonant Basics

Is ㄱ "G" or "K"?

It's actually both! Between vowels, it sounds more like "G" (Gogi), but at the start of a word, it can sound like a soft "K". Don't worry about it too much now—focus on the flow!

Why does ㅅ sound like "SH"?

Only when it meets the vowel ㅣ(i). So, 사 is "sa," but 시 is "shi."