The letter and word buttons play Korean recordings. Select the same button again to stop.
THE KOREAN CONSONANT MAP
14 basic + 5 double = 19 consonant letters
ㄱ ㄴ ㄷ ㄹ ㅁ ㅂ ㅅ ㅇ ㅈ ㅊ ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅎ
ㄲ ㄸ ㅃ ㅆ ㅉ
Start with the basic shapes, then compare the tense sounds.
ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ and ㅊ are already included in the 14 basic letters. “Aspirated” describes their sound category. [1]
YOUR PRACTICE PLAN
Connect a consonant name to a letter and a word
First review the idea of a syllable block. Start with ㄱ, ㄴ, ㅁ, ㅅ and ㅇ rather than trying to master all 19 at once.
By the end, you can…
- Match five consonant letters to their names.
- Distinguish a letter name from its sound inside a word.
- Locate initial and final consonants in 김 and 강.
Korean has 14 basic consonants and 5 double (tense) consonants — 19 total. Each consonant has an official name in Korean, just like how English has "ay" for A, "bee" for B. The names help you spell words aloud and follow lessons; you can start reading simple syllables before memorising every name. Click any consonant to hear its name! 🔊
💡 Why Learn the Names?
When a Korean person spells their name or a word, they say the consonant names out loud — just like saying 'K-I-M' in English. For example, 김 (Kim) = 기역 + 이 + 미음. Use the names to describe the letters, then practise the word as a whole.
📖 How to Read This Guide
Each card below shows:
- The consonant character (click to hear its name)
- Official Korean name (e.g., 기역, 니은)
- Romanization of the name [in brackets], with learning hyphens
- Sound description — approximate English cues, not exact equivalents
- Example word button — click to hear a real Korean word
About the reading aids: hyphens separate parts of a letter name for beginners: gi-yeok corresponds to giyeok without the learning hyphen. These bracketed name labels are not IPA pronunciation transcriptions. Korean examples such as 밖 [박] below use brackets to show the spoken form. Roman letters are approximate cues; use the Korean audio. [2]
📝 Rian's Note
A letter’s pronunciation depends on its position and neighbouring sounds. Initial ㄱ is not an exact English g; between voiced sounds it may sound more g-like, while a final ㄱ before a pause is an unreleased k-like stop. Use Korean word audio alongside the chart.
🔤 The 14 Basic Consonants (기본 자음)
Click the large character to hear its name, or the word button to hear an example:
🎯 Aspirated vs. Plain Consonants
Korean has pairs of consonants that differ in 'breathiness'. ㄱ (g/k) vs ㅋ (k with a puff of air). ㄷ (d/t) vs ㅌ (t with air). ㅂ (b/p) vs ㅍ (p with air). ㅈ (j) vs ㅊ (ch with air). Hold your hand in front of your mouth — aspirated consonants can produce a noticeable puff of air.
⚡ The 5 Double (Tense) Consonants (쌍자음)
Double consonants are written by doubling a basic consonant. They represent tense sounds in the initial position; practise with a comfortable voice. ㄸ, ㅃ and ㅉ are not used as batchim. ㄲ and ㅆ can be written as batchim, but their pronunciation follows final-consonant rules: 밖 → [박] when said on its own; 있다 → [읻따]. In 있다, final ㅆ becomes a ㄷ-like closed stop and the following ㄷ becomes tense ㄸ. See the short batchim explanation below.
🔊 How to Pronounce Tense Consonants
Tense consonants are a separate Korean category. An English sound comparison cannot reproduce the full contrast. Listen to Korean examples such as 꿈, 딸기 and 빵, then repeat with a comfortable voice. Avoid forcing your throat or treating loudness as the goal.
Within the basic 14: four aspirated partners
ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, ㅊ were in the basic-letter cards above. Compare them with the plain and tense letters you have already met:
| Plain | Tense | Aspirated | Aspirated word example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ㄱ | ㄲ | ㅋ | |
| ㄷ | ㄸ | ㅌ | |
| ㅂ | ㅃ | ㅍ | |
| ㅈ | ㅉ | ㅊ |
Aspirated stops have a noticeable release of air. A hand or a piece of paper can help you notice it, but breath alone does not identify every Korean contrast: plain stops can also be aspirated at the beginning of an utterance. Listen to the complete syllable, including the following vowel, and keep your voice comfortable.
One letter, different positions: what to listen for
The English cues on the cards are starting points, not exact sound matches. These examples help you notice why a letter does not always sound the same.
ㄱ, ㄷ and ㅂ: compare the beginning with the middle
At the beginning of a word said on its own, ㄱ, ㄷ and ㅂ can sound closer to k, t, p than to voiced English g, d, b. Between vowels, they are commonly voiced and sound more g-, d-, b-like. In 고기 (meat), compare the first ㄱ with the second ㄱ between ㅗ and ㅣ. They are the same written letter in different positions. Speaker and speaking context affect the result. [3]
ㅅ: when does it sound sh-like?
Before ㅣ and vowels beginning with a y-glide, such as ㅑ and ㅕ, ㅅ is pronounced farther back in the mouth and can sound close to English sh: compare 사 with 시 and 샤. This is a context-specific cue, not a choice of two interchangeable sounds, and the Korean sound is not identical to English sh. [4]
ㄹ: a quick tap or an l-like ending
A single initial ㄹ, especially between vowels as in 나라, is usually a brief tongue tap. Think of one light contact, not a curled English r. A final ㄹ before a pause or a consonant is l-like, as in 달 (moon). Adjacent ㄹ sounds, as in 달라, also have an l-like quality. [3]
ㄲ and ㅆ as batchim: keep the spelling, change the sound
| Written word | Spoken form | What changes? |
|---|---|---|
| 밖 | [박] | Final ㄲ closes as an unreleased k-like stop. |
| 있다 | [읻따] | Final ㅆ closes as an unreleased t-like stop; the next ㄷ is pronounced ㄸ. |
Do not add a vowel or a final hiss after these closed stops. The tense initial sound is not carried over unchanged into batchim. A following vowel can change the pattern again: 밖에 → [바께] and 있어 → [이써]. These are examples of linking, not a reason to change the spelling. [5] Continue with the batchim guide when you are ready.
📊 Complete Consonant Reference Table
| Char | Name (Korean) | Romanization | Sound | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ㄱ | 기역 | gi-yeok | k-like initially; g-like between vowels | Plain |
| ㄴ | 니은 | ni-eun | n | Nasal |
| ㄷ | 디귿 | di-geut | t-like initially; d-like between vowels | Plain |
| ㄹ | 리을 | ri-eul | initial tap / final l-like | Liquid |
| ㅁ | 미음 | mi-eum | m | Nasal |
| ㅂ | 비읍 | bi-eup | p-like initially; b-like between vowels | Plain |
| ㅅ | 시옷 | si-ot | s; sh-like before ㅣ / y-glides | Plain |
| ㅇ | 이응 | i-eung | silent initial / ng final | Silent initial / nasal final |
| ㅈ | 지읒 | ji-eut | j / ch | Plain |
| ㅊ | 치읓 | chi-eut | ch (aspirated) | Aspirated |
| ㅋ | 키읔 | ki-euk | k (aspirated) | Aspirated |
| ㅌ | 티읕 | ti-eut | t (aspirated) | Aspirated |
| ㅍ | 피읖 | pi-eup | p (aspirated) | Aspirated |
| ㅎ | 히읗 | hi-eut | h | Glottal fricative |
| ㄲ | 쌍기역 | ssang-gi-yeok | tense k | Tense (Double) |
| ㄸ | 쌍디귿 | ssang-di-geut | tense t | Tense (Double) |
| ㅃ | 쌍비읍 | ssang-bi-eup | tense p | Tense (Double) |
| ㅆ | 쌍시옷 | ssang-si-ot | tense s | Tense (Double) |
| ㅉ | 쌍지읒 | ssang-ji-eut | tense j | Tense (Double) |
🚀 Rian's Expert Tip
Practise spelling a few familiar words with the letter names, then check them in a different order. For 김, say 기역–이–미음. Review the names you hesitate over rather than setting a fixed deadline for all 19.
Choose your next consonant practice
Use this guide for the letter map and pronunciation. Choose one companion lesson for your next practice session.
📚 Related Posts
Watch and practise: Write 14 Korean Consonants
Ready to write the consonants you have just learned? Follow the stroke-order arrows for ㄱ–ㅎ, pause during Your Turn, and finish with a short memory review.
Watch the writing lesson on YouTube →
Keep a pencil and paper nearby. Watch, copy, then cover the model and try from memory. Continue with the Hangul learning path →
Continue on paper with the Korean Consonant Writing Workbook
Pair the writing lesson with the Gachi Korea workbook. Watch a letter, practise writing it, then cover the example and try from memory.
See the workbook and Hangul practice guide for a simple routine combining video, the free stroke-order tool and paper practice.
Korean consonants: three common questions
How many Korean consonants are there: 14 or 19?
There are 14 basic consonant letters. Add the five double letters ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ and there are 19 modern consonant letters for the initial position. ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ and ㅊ are included in the basic 14. The total here counts letters; the number of distinct final sounds is a different question. [1]
Why is ㅇ silent at the beginning of a syllable?
Hangul syllable blocks need an initial position. In a vowel-initial syllable such as 아, ㅇ fills that position without adding a consonant sound. In the final position it represents ng, as in 강. Compare the position in the block before deciding how to pronounce it. [1]
Do I have to memorise every consonant name first?
No. You can begin reading simple syllables while learning the names gradually. Names such as 기역 help with spelling, lessons and looking up letters; they are not the sounds to say inside every word. Start by recalling five names, then add a few more in your next practice session.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
Saying the letter name inside every word
기역 is the name of ㄱ. Reading 가 does not mean saying 기역 followed by 아; listen to the whole syllable.
Using English letters as exact sound instructions
The g/k and r/l labels are rough cues. Korean consonants change with position and context; compare Korean examples.
Trying to make tense consonants by shouting
ㄲ is not simply a louder ㄱ. Compare 까, 가 and 카 in Korean recordings, with a comfortable voice; volume alone does not identify the category.
Listen, then recall
Hear these syllables and words before trying the questions. Keep a letter name separate from its sound in a syllable.
Try it before opening the answers
Write your own answer first. Then open the explanation, correct one detail and try again without looking.
1. Write the letters named 기역, 니은, 미음, 시옷 and 이응.
Show answer and explanation 1
ㄱ, ㄴ, ㅁ, ㅅ, ㅇ. Say the names again while pointing to your own writing.
2. Spell 김 using letter names. Is it one block or three?
Show answer and explanation 2
기역 + 이 + 미음. 김 is one block containing three letters; the separate letter names are not its spoken pronunciation.
3. Find the first and final consonants in 강.
Show answer and explanation 3
Initial ㄱ; final ㅇ. The final ㅇ has an ng sound here, unlike initial ㅇ in 아.
4. Group ㄱ, ㄲ and ㅋ as plain, tense and aspirated.
Show answer and explanation 4
ㄱ: plain; ㄲ: tense; ㅋ: aspirated. These are Korean sound categories, not just three volume levels.
5. Name the first consonant in 가방 and the final consonant in 방.
Show answer and explanation 5
가방 begins with ㄱ (기역). 방 ends with ㅇ (이응). Identify the written letter before deciding how it sounds in context.
Your next practice session
If a name is difficult, replay that name, cover the card and write the letter. Return later and try the five names in a different order.