In our first lesson on Korean diphthongs, we studied ㅑ (ya) and ㅕ (yeo). Now, in Part 2, we will learn two more essential diphthongs: ㅛ (yo) and ㅠ (yu). These sounds are widely used in Korean daily speech, so learning them will help you read and pronounce Korean more naturally.
What Are ㅛ and ㅠ?
Just like before, these diphthongs are created by adding the short sound [y] in front of a basic vowel.
- ㅗ (o) → ㅛ (yo)
- ㅜ (u) → ㅠ (yu)
When you combine [y] + o or [y] + u, you get these smooth sounds.
Step 1: Learning ㅛ (yo)
- Formation: ㅛ comes from adding [y] to ㅗ.
- Pronunciation: Start with a very short “ee” sound, then move into the “oh” sound.
- Slowly: 이~오 → 요
- Example Words:
- 요리 (yori) – cooking
- 표 (pyo) – ticket
👉 Tip: Make the [y] short and the ㅗ sound longer. Do not pronounce it like English “yo” with a strong glide.
Step 2: Learning ㅠ (yu)
- Formation: ㅠ comes from adding [y] to ㅜ.
- Pronunciation: Start with a quick “ee” sound, then slide into “oo.”
- Slowly: 이~우 → 유
- Example Words:
- 유리 (yuri) – glass
- 휴지 (hyuji) – tissue
👉 Tip: Be careful not to make it sound like “you” in English. The sound is softer and smoother.
Writing Practice
- To write ㅛ (yo): Begin with ㅗ and add an extra short stroke.
- To write ㅠ (yu): Begin with ㅜ and add an extra short stroke.
Practice by combining with consonants: 요, 효, 묘, 류, etc.
Vocabulary Practice
Read these words three times aloud:
- 요리 (yori) – cooking
- 표 (pyo) – ticket
- 유리 (yuri) – glass
- 휴지 (hyuji) – tissue
- 교사 (gyosa) – teacher
- 하교 (hagyo) – going home from school
Activity: Dictation Relay Game
A fun classroom activity is dictation relay.
- Divide students into small teams.
- Each student gets a card with a diphthong word (e.g., 휴지, 유리, 표, 요리).
- One student reads the word to the next, who writes it down.
- The process continues around the team.
- Teams check accuracy and score points.
This exercise improves listening, spelling, and pronunciation skills at the same time.
Common Mistakes
- Saying “yo” like in English slang instead of the softer Korean “요.”
- Overemphasizing the [y] sound – remember it’s short.
- Confusing ㅠ with English “you.” The Korean version is quicker and more connected.
Conclusion
In this lesson, you learned ㅛ (yo) and ㅠ (yu), two important Korean diphthongs. You practiced how to form the sounds, write the characters, and use them in everyday words.
👉 In Part 3, we will study ㅖ (ye) and ㅒ (yae), which can be tricky for learners because they sound very similar. Stay tuned!