L1-01 / 12 min

Basic vowels

모음 기초

Hangul vowels are the spine of every syllable. Learn the six basics, then stack a silent ㅇ in front so you can actually read a sound.

6 vowelsSyllable building12 min

Today’s goal

Read 아 어 오 우 으 이 out loud, and see how a vowel sits to the right or under a consonant.

Letters

Tap a block to hear it.

Words

아

a · ah (open mouth)

어

eo · uh

오

o · oh

우

u · oo

으

eu · eu

이

i · ee

아이

ai · child (you can already read this)

오이

oi · cucumber

A syllable needs a placeholder

A Korean syllable is a block, not a line of letters. If there is no consonant, write ㅇ first — it is silent here — then add the vowel: ㅇ + ㅏ = 아. Vertical vowels (ㅏ ㅓ ㅣ) sit to the right. Horizontal vowels (ㅗ ㅜ ㅡ) sit under.

Sentences

아이

ai · child

오이

oi · cucumber

아우

au · younger brother (old word, good reading drill)

Say it out loud

Your line

아이, 오이, 이

ai, oi, i · Read these three blocks slowly.

Common interjection — 이야… · A small oh you hear in dramas.

Practice these sentences ->