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Korean has five double consonants (쌍자음, ssang-jaeum), also called tense consonants (된소리, doen-sori). These are formed by doubling a basic consonant and produce a tenser, sharper sound. They are essential for distinguishing words that would otherwise sound the same.
| Character | Name (Korean) | Name (Romanised) | Sound | Base Consonant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ㄲ | 쌍기역 | ssang-giyeok | "kk" — tense k | ㄱ (g/k) |
| ㄸ | 쌍디귿 | ssang-digeut | "tt" — tense t | ㄷ (d/t) |
| ㅃ | 쌍비읍 | ssang-bieup | "pp" — tense p | ㅂ (b/p) |
| ㅆ | 쌍시옷 | ssang-siot | "ss" — tense s | ㅅ (s) |
| ㅉ | 쌍지읒 | ssang-jieut | "jj" — tense j | ㅈ (j) |
The word 쌍 (ssang) means "twin" or "double," reflecting that these consonants are visually doubled versions of the basic consonants.
Korean consonants come in three types for each position. Understanding the differences is crucial:
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