Diphthongs, also known as 이중모음 (ijeungmoeum) in Korean, are a crucial element of the Korean language's sound system. They are complex vowel sounds formed by combining two basic vowels within a single syllable. Understanding diphthongs is essential for accurate pronunciation and comprehension of Korean words.
What are Diphthongs?
Diphthongs are vowel sounds that involve a smooth transition from one vowel sound to another within the same syllable. In Hangeul, they are created by combining specific basic vowels, resulting in 11 distinct diphthong sounds.
The 11 Diphthongs in Hangeul
| Diphthongs | Romanization | Pronunciation | Description |
| ㅐ | ae | ae (as in "cat") | A combination of ㅏ (a) and ㅣ (i) similar to the short 'a' sound in "cat." |
| ㅒ | yae | yae (as in "yeah") | A combination of ㅑ (ya) and ㅣ (i) similar to the 'ya' sound in "yard" followed by a short 'e' sound. |
| ㅔ | e | eh (as in "bet") | A combination of ㅓ (eo) and ㅣ (i) similar to the short 'e' sound in "bet." |
| ㅖ | ye | yeh (as in "yet") | A combination of ㅕ (yeo) and ㅣ (i) similar to the 'ye' sound in "yet." |
| ㅘ | wa | wa (as in "want") | A combination of ㅗ (o) and ㅏ (a) similar to the 'wa' sound in "want." |
| ㅙ | wae | weh (as in "wet") | A combination of ㅗ (o) and ㅐ (ae) similar to the 'we' sound in "wet." |
| ㅚ | oe | weh (as in "wet") or we (as in "way") | A combination of ㅗ (o) and ㅣ (i), can be pronounced either like the 'we' sound in "wet" or the 'way' sound in "way." |
| ㅝ | wo | wo (as in "won") | A combination of ㅜ (u) and ㅓ (eo) similar to the 'wo' sound in "won." |
| ㅞ | we | weh (as in "wet") | A combination of ㅜ (u) and ㅔ (e) similar to the 'we' sound in "wet." |
| ㅟ | wi | wee (as in "week") | A combination of ㅜ (u) and ㅣ (i) similar to the 'wee' sound in "week." |
| ㅢ | ui | ui (as in "ruin") | A combination of ㅡ (eu) and ㅣ (i) similar to the 'ui' sound in "ruin." |
Examples of Diphthongs in Words
| 왜 | wae | weh (as in "wet") | why |
| 웨딩 | weding | weh-ding (as in "wed-ding") | wedding |
| 괴물 | goemul | gweh-mool (as in "gway-mool") | monster |
| 쥐 | jwi | jwee (as in "twee") | mouse |
| 의자 | uija | ui-ja (as in "oo-ee-ja") | chair |
Pronunciation Tips
- Smooth Transition: Focus on the smooth transition from one vowel sound to the other within the diphthong.
- Listen and Imitate: Listen to native speakers and try to mimic their pronunciation of diphthongs.
- Practice: Practice saying words with different diphthongs to improve your pronunciation and fluency.
By understanding and mastering diphthongs, you'll be able to pronounce Korean words more accurately, improve your listening comprehension, and communicate more effectively in Korean.
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