Learning path
Korean Basics:
the complete Hangul guide
The fastest structured way to learn the Korean alphabet from scratch — from what Hangul is, to reading your first real Korean words.
Rian's note
After years of teaching Korean and English, I can say this with confidence: Hangul is one of the easiest writing systems to learn. Most of my students read basic Korean within a few hours of focused practice. The key is the order — consonants first, then vowels, then combining them.
What this path is
A free, structured Korean basics course for absolute beginners. Each lesson builds on the one before it, so you never feel lost. By the end you will be able to read and write any Korean word using Hangul.
Unlike scattered videos or apps that jump around, this path follows the order used in Korean schools: consonant names → vowels → syllable blocks → real words. Every lesson includes audio pronunciation, so you can hear exactly how each sound is made.
Your learning path
- 1 What is Hangul? The history and structure of the Korean writing system — created in 1443 by King Sejong. 8 min read →
- 2 Hangul Consonants All 14 basic consonants (기역, 니은, 디귿…) plus 5 double consonants, with sound practice. 10 min read →
- 3 Hangul Vowels All 10 basic vowels and 11 compound vowels — the building blocks of every Korean syllable. 8 min read →
- 4 Building Syllable Blocks The three rules for combining consonants and vowels into Korean syllable blocks (음절). 10 min read →
- 5 Final Consonants (받침) The seven representative sounds and liaison rules — the last piece of reading Korean accurately. 25 min read →
- 6 Stroke Order Animated stroke order for every consonant and vowel, then practise writing them yourself. 30 min · interactive →
- 7 Hangul Trainer Read, listen, speak, write — spaced repetition built for permanent memory. 60 min · interactive →
- 8 First Korean Words Greetings, numbers, and everyday vocabulary you can start using right away. 12 min read →
- 9 Hangul Memory Game Match Korean letters to their romanisation against the clock — three difficulty levels. 5–10 min · interactive →
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to learn Hangul?
Most beginners can read and write basic Hangul after two to four hours of focused study. Following this path, you will be reading Korean words within a day.
Should I learn consonants or vowels first?
Consonants first. This is the order used in Korean schools and most professional textbooks. Korean consonants have official names (기역, 니은, 디귿…) that matter for spelling and for talking about the language.
Is this Korean basics course free?
Yes. Every lesson in this path is free and needs no sign-up. Each one includes audio pronunciation.
Do I need to learn to write by hand?
It helps more than most learners expect. Writing each letter in the correct stroke order builds the motor memory that makes reading faster, which is why step 6 exists.