Read compound vowels
Read & notice
Some vowel letters combine visible pieces: ㅗ + ㅏ forms ㅘ, and ㅜ + ㅓ forms ㅝ. With an initial silent ㅇ, these appear in 와 and 워. A written compound is one vowel position in the syllable formula, not a new syllable.
Do not assume spelling predicts every speaker’s exact sound. In contemporary speech, distinctions such as ㅐ and ㅔ may be reduced for many speakers. Learn spelling and listening as related but separate skills.
Listen & connect
Listen, look at the word, then say it yourself. Synthetic Korean voice; replay as needed.
Listen first
Choose the word you hear.
ㅗ + ㅏ = ?
Some vowel letters combine visible pieces: ㅗ + ㅏ forms ㅘ, and ㅜ + ㅓ forms ㅝ. With an initial silent ㅇ, these appear in 와 and 워. A written compound is one vowel position in the syllable formula, not a new syllable.
ㅜ + ㅓ = ?
ㅜ + ㅓ = ㅝ
Reference & extension
Answer every check correctly to complete this lesson.
Sources & further reading
Facts checked against these sources; explanations are independently written.
National Institute of Korean Language ↗Online King Sejong Institute ↗