How it works
Hangul was created in 1443 by King Sejong the Great and published in 1446 so that ordinary people could read and write. It is often called one of the most logical writing systems in the world, and most learners can read it within a few days.
Consonants were drawn from the mouth
The five basic consonants picture the speech organs: ㄱ shows the back of the tongue touching the soft palate, ㄴ the tongue tip touching behind the teeth, ㅁ the closed mouth, ㅅ a tooth, and ㅇ the open throat. Other consonants add strokes to show a stronger sound: ㄱ → ㅋ (with a puff of air) and ㄱ → ㄲ (tense).
Plain, aspirated and tense
Korean has three versions of several sounds, a difference English doesn't use for meaning:
| Plain | Aspirated (puff of air) | Tense (tight, no air) |
|---|---|---|
| ㄱ g/k | ㅋ k | ㄲ kk |
| ㄷ d/t | ㅌ t | ㄸ tt |
| ㅂ b/p | ㅍ p | ㅃ pp |
| ㅈ j | ㅊ ch | ㅉ jj |
| ㅅ s | ㅆ ss |
Vowels are built from three strokes
All vowels come from a dot for heaven (now a short stroke), a flat line for earth (ㅡ) and a standing line for people (ㅣ). Add one short stroke and you get ㅏ or ㅓ; add a second and the vowel gains a y sound: ㅑ, ㅕ.
Letters stack into syllable blocks
Letters are not written in a line like English. They are grouped into square blocks of one syllable each: 한 = ㅎ + ㅏ + ㄴ. Every block starts with a consonant; if the syllable starts with a vowel sound, the silent ㅇ fills the spot (아). Click any cell in the syllable table to hear how each consonant and vowel combine.
Every letter is read by a recorded Korean voice. The syllable table uses your device's built-in Korean voice; if those cells are silent, add Korean as a speech language in your device settings.
Frequently asked questions
How many letters are in the Korean alphabet?
Modern Hangul uses 24 basic letters (14 consonants and 10 vowels). Counting double consonants and compound vowels, there are 40 letters: 19 consonants and 21 vowels.
How long does it take to learn Hangul?
Most people can read Hangul slowly after one to three days of study, and fluently after a few weeks of practice. Learning the sounds is fast; the sound changes between syllables take longer.
Why does ㄱ sound like both g and k?
ㄱ is a plain stop that sounds softer, like g, between vowels and harder, like k, at the start of a word or the end of a syllable. Koreans hear it as one sound.
What is the difference between ㅐ and ㅔ?
In standard modern Seoul speech they sound almost the same, like the e in "bed". Spelling still distinguishes them, so you have to memorize which word uses which.
Why is there no sound when I tap a letter?
The audio uses your device's Korean text-to-speech voice. If your device has none, add Korean as a language (or speech voice) in your settings and reload the page.
Based on: Hunminjeongeum Haerye (1446) · National Institute of Korean Language, Korean orthography (한글 맞춤법)
Last checked: 2026-10-20