Learning Hangul vowels is one of the most important steps for anyone studying Korean.
In this lesson, we’ll explore Master Hangeul’s Vowels 2 unit, which focuses on Korean diphthongs — combined vowel sounds that are essential for clear and natural Korean pronunciation.
🌱 Understanding Hangul Vowels 2
Korean vowels are divided into single vowels and
diphthongs (combined vowels).
In Vowels 2, you’ll learn how two basic vowels merge to form new
sounds like:
-
ㅗ + ㅏ = ㅘ [wa]
-
ㅜ + ㅔ = ㅞ [we]
-
ㅡ + ㅣ = ㅢ [ɰi]
These combinations create sounds that don’t exist in English, making this chapter both challenging and fascinating for learners.
🔤 Korean Diphthongs and Their Pronunciation
Some Korean diphthongs sound very similar to each other, which often causes
confusion — even for native speakers!
Let’s look at how to pronounce and distinguish them.
1️⃣ ㅔ [e] vs ㅐ [ɛ]
These two vowels used to sound very different in old Korean, but in modern
speech, they’re almost identical.
That’s why many Koreans today can’t distinguish between them clearly.
2️⃣ ㅖ [je] vs ㅒ [jɛ]
Formed from ㅣ + ㅔ and ㅣ + ㅐ, these diphthongs are also
pronounced nearly the same — [je].
You’ll hear them in words like 예쁜 (pretty) and
얘기 (story).
3️⃣ ㅙ [wɛ] · ㅞ [we] · ㅚ [we/ø]
These three diphthongs — 왜, 웨, 외 — are often pronounced the same
by younger Koreans.
They combine both horizontal and vertical vowels (like ㅗ,
ㅜ, ㅣ).
4️⃣ ㅝ [wʌ] · ㅟ [wi] · ㅢ [ɰi]
These are among the trickiest Korean vowels for English speakers.
-
ㅝ = ㅜ + ㅓ → [wʌ] (like “what”)
-
ㅟ = ㅜ + ㅣ → [wi] (like “week”)
-
ㅢ = ㅡ + ㅣ → [ɰi] (no English equivalent, similar to “ui” in quit)
💡 Tips for Practicing Korean Vowels
1. Focus on mouth shape.
Round your lips
for ㅗ and ㅜ, and keep them flat for ㅡ and
ㅣ.
2. Practice transitions quickly.
Combine
the vowels smoothly (e.g., ㅡ + ㅣ → ㅢ).
3. Repeat listening and speaking.
Use audio
materials or native speaker recordings to master natural pronunciation.
🎯 Hangul Vowels 2 Summary Table
| Vowel | Combination | Pronunciation | Similar English Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| ㅔ | – | [e] | bed |
| ㅐ | – | [ɛ] | cat |
| ㅖ | ㅣ + ㅔ | [je] | yes |
| ㅒ | ㅣ + ㅐ | [jɛ] | yellow |
| ㅘ | ㅗ + ㅏ | [wa] | want |
| ㅙ | ㅗ + ㅐ | [wɛ] | where |
| ㅚ | ㅗ + ㅣ | [we/ø] | way |
| ㅝ | ㅜ + ㅓ | [wʌ] | what |
| ㅞ | ㅜ + ㅔ | [we] | west |
| ㅟ | ㅜ + ㅣ | [wi] | week |
| ㅢ | ㅡ + ㅣ | [ɰi] | ui (as in “quit”) |
🗣️ Final Thoughts
The Korean Vowels 2 unit can be tricky for beginners, but
with consistent practice and careful listening, you’ll start to recognize
subtle sound differences.
By repeating words like 왜, 웨, and 외 and focusing
on your mouth movement, you can quickly improve your pronunciation.
Keep practicing — mastering Hangul vowels will dramatically boost your fluency and confidence in speaking Korean!
