Korean pronuncation – speak like a native korean
How to pronounce Korean words without accent? How to say, pronounce words as if you were born in Korea? The correct Korean pronunciation tips so that Koreans understand your speech, and you understand them.

Korean pronuncation – speak like a native korean 10 tips:

1. Say “O” instead of “Eh, Um”.
2. Check the pronunciation via youtube videos with subs.
3. Emphasis and intonation.
4. Soft pronunciation of words, sounds.
5. 네 are these the sounds [ne] or [de]?
6. 뭐 are these sounds [mvo] / [bvo] / [mo]?
7. How to correctly say you in korea – 당신 or 너는, 자네, 그대, 그쪽, 저 분, etc.
8. The correct pronunciation of [ㅎ].
9. The difference between 학교야 / 학교에 있어요? noun + 야 / noun + 에 (에서) 있어요?
10. “aw, ah” in Korean is “어머”?

1. Say “O” instead of “Eh, Um”.

When pronouncing a sentence, English speakers often use sounds [eh, uhm] – when they are unsure of something or stammer. In Korea, instead of these sounds, in 90% of cases, Koreans pronounce the sound [o]. So, when pronouncing sentences in Korean, if you replace [eh, uhm] with [o], you will sounds the way more natural.

For Example:
I eh… don’t like to eat spicy food that much 저는 에… 매운것 잘 안먹어요.
I o… don’t like to eat spicy food that much 저는 어… 매운것 잘 안먹어요.

2. Check the pronunciation via youtube videos with subs.

You may have noticed that the pronunciation in the translator (especially Google translator) is a bit like the sound of a robot.

To train speaking, we recommend watching videos on youtube with Korean subtitles. So you will quickly learn to understand Korean speech by ear and it will be easier for you to copy the pronunciation. It can be difficult for a beginner to find such videos, so below, we have attached a video from one YouTube channel, on which there are a lot of suitable videos for developing conversational Korean. We advise!

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3. Emphasis and intonation

In Korean, stress is often or completely absent, or falls on the last syllable. At the same time, there are several dialects in Korean, for example, Busan and Seoul. In the Busan dialect, stress, intonation are pronounced and literally “jump” from word to word. But in the Seoul dialect, on the contrary, sentences are pronounced softly, practically without stress, and intonation is expressed only when the question or emotionality is said.

A really good example of the Seoul and Busan dialects is the speech of the characters of Eunsop and Yong from the drama “The King: Eternal Monarch”. Example:

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4. Soft pronunciation of words, sounds

One of the most common mistakes made by beginners is that they try to pronounce every letter, every sound, clearly pronouncing the words in sentences. However, again, Koreans miss many sounds when speaking.

For example:
안녕하세요 – anyönghaseyo anyöäseyo. Hello.
이해 합니다 – Ihehapnida Ieamnida / Iehamnida. Understand.
좋아 하는것 뭐예요? – chokhahanyngot mvoeyo choahanyngo mvooe? What do you like?

5. 네 are these the sounds [ne] or [de]?

If you listen to Korean speech / see dramas, etc. You may notice that Koreans often pronounce the word “yes” “네” – not as [ne], but as [de]. This is all because they, making a sound [n] – do not leave the tip of the tongue on top of the palate, but slightly push it between the front teeth. What makes the sound a bit like [de], as if a person speaks lightly in the nose.

6. 뭐 are these sounds [mvo] / [bvo] / [mo]?

In Korean, “뭐” is not pronounced like [mvo]. Koreans, in their everyday speech, say either [mo] or [bvo], which can even sound like [bo]. Just pay attention when listening to Korean. However, “뭐예요” often sounds like [moeyo] or [bvoeyo].

7. How to correctly say you in korea – 당신 or 너는, 자네, 그대, 그쪽, 저 분, etc.

This is also a very important point, in Korean, even though the word 당신 refers to the polite style of speech, it is not customary to use it in relation to a familiar person who is older in age or status. Even to a little-known person as well. This is not just not accepted, but also considered indecent. If you say so, then you will certainly be forgiven as a foreigner, but if you still want to “sound” like a native speaker, it is better to know the name or position (at work) to call:
name + 씨: 김민아 씨
position at work / status + 님: 감동 님, 선생님, 어머님
last name + position + 님: 김 의사 님

At the same time, there are many other ways to say “you” in Korean, for example:
너는 – you (when communicating with friends)
당신 – you (polite style of speech, can be seen in many textbooks in Korean, but in fact they almost never use this option).
그대 – you, you (polite style, often used in poetry, can be seen in many k-pop songs and poems)
자네 – you, you (a polite appeal to someone younger is often found in many historical dramas, but is currently almost never used)
그쪽 – you, you (literally means the other side, the opponent. It is often used in a polite style of speech, for example, on dates, when people only get to know each other).

8. Correct pronunciation of [ㅎ]

The pronunciation of [ㅎ] is especially important. The fact is that of all consonants, this sound is most often omitted. Those. to pronounce it correctly you need to either say [h] on the exhale, or not to pronounce it at all.

For example:
뭐해요 – moheyo, [h] on the exhale. if pronounced without [h], then its gonna sounds like an other word – 뭐예요.
이해했어요 – e-yehessoyo, the first [h] is not pronounced.

9. The difference between 학교야 / 학교에 있어요? noun + 야 / noun + 에 (에서) 있어요?

Another interesting point. For those who learn Korean, phrases 학교야? and 학교에 있어요? Not only will they sound different, but the meaning will be different. However, the meaning of these phrases is the same for Koreans, and even the first option is more popular.
To ask, are you at home, are you at school, are you at work? They often just say “집이야? 학교야? 회사야?” What for us will literally sound like “are you home? School? Company?” This moment you just need to remember.

In addition, you may have studied the difference between 에 / 에서, the endings of a place, however Koreans often skip the ending 에서 and just say 에.

10. “aw, ah” in Korean is “어머”?

When something suddenly happens, usually the English speakers say “aw, ah” whereas the Koreans use the word [omo] 어머, well, or the classic [aaa]. Of course, this is a trifle, but still, if you are going to speak Korean like a native speaker, get scared as a native Korean too!;)

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Korean pronuncation – speak like a native korean
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