Pronunciation Rules

Korean spelling and pronunciation often differ. While Hangul is a highly phonetic script, several pronunciation rules cause the spoken form to deviate from the written form. These rules are systematic and predictable — once you learn them, you can correctly pronounce any Korean word.

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Rule 1: Linking (연음, Yeonum)

When a syllable ending in a batchim is followed by a syllable starting with ㅇ (silent), the batchim links to become the initial consonant of the next syllable.

Written	Spoken As	Romanisation
음악	으막	eumak
한국어	한구거	hangugeo
먹어요	머거요	meogeoyo
일요일	이료일	iryoil
옷을	오슬	oseul
밥을	바블	babeul

This is the most basic and common rule. It happens automatically in natural speech.

Note: When ㅎ is the batchim and the next syllable starts with ㅇ, the ㅎ is silent and does not link. Instead, the vowel simply starts: 좋아 → 조아 (joa).

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Rule 2: Nasalisation (비음화, Bieumhwa)

When a stop consonant (ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ) in batchim position is followed by a nasal consonant (ㄴ or ㅁ), the stop changes to the corresponding nasal:

Batchim	Before ㄴ/ㅁ	Becomes
ㄱ (k)	+ ㄴ/ㅁ	ㅇ (ng)
ㄷ (t)	+ ㄴ/ㅁ	ㄴ (n)
ㅂ (p)	+ ㄴ/ㅁ	ㅁ (m)

Examples:

Written	Rule Applied	Spoken As	Meaning
한국말	ㄱ + ㅁ → ㅇ + ㅁ	한궁말	Korean language
작년	ㄱ + ㄴ → ㅇ + ㄴ	장년	last year
읽는	ㄱ + ㄴ → ㅇ + ㄴ	잉는	reading
맛나다	ㄷ + ㄴ → ㄴ + ㄴ	만나다	to be delicious
있는	ㄷ + ㄴ → ㄴ + ㄴ	인는	that exists
십만	ㅂ + ㅁ → ㅁ + ㅁ	심만	one hundred thousand
합니다	ㅂ + ㄴ → ㅁ + ㄴ	함니다	(polite ending) do

Tip: This rule is why 감사합니다 (thank you) is pronounced "감사함니다" (gamsahamnida) — the ㅂ before ㄴ becomes ㅁ.

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Rule 3: Aspiration (격음화, Gyeoeumhwa)

When ㅎ meets certain consonants, they combine to form an aspirated consonant:

Combination	Result
ㄱ + ㅎ or ㅎ + ㄱ	ㅋ (k)
ㄷ + ㅎ or ㅎ + ㄷ	ㅌ (t)
ㅂ + ㅎ or ㅎ + ㅂ	ㅍ (p)
ㅈ + ㅎ or ㅎ + ㅈ	ㅊ (ch)

Examples:

Written	Rule Applied	Spoken As	Meaning
축하	ㄱ + ㅎ → ㅋ	추카	congratulations
좋다	ㅎ + ㄷ → ㅌ	조타	to be good
놓다	ㅎ + ㄷ → ㅌ	노타	to put down
입학	ㅂ + ㅎ → ㅍ	이팍	enrollment
급하다	ㅂ + ㅎ → ㅍ	그파다	to be urgent

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Rule 4: Palatalisation (구개음화, Gugaeumhwa)

When ㄷ or ㅌ in batchim position is followed by the vowel ㅣ or the suffix 히, the consonant changes:

Batchim	Before ㅣ/히	Becomes
ㄷ	+ ㅣ	ㅈ + ㅣ
ㅌ	+ ㅣ	ㅊ + ㅣ

Examples: