# Lesson 1‑10 – Mastering the Last Basic Vowels: ㅡ (eu) & ㅣ (i)
So far, you've learned eight Korean vowels (ㅏ, ㅑ, ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅗ, ㅛ, ㅜ, ㅠ) and how to combine them with consonants. You've also practiced writing, pronunciation, and basic words.
Now, let’s complete the 10 basic Hangul vowels by learning:
ㅡ (eu)
ㅣ (i)
These vowels are considered neutral vowels, and they can appear alone, with a consonant, or in a block with a final consonant (받침). Mastering them helps you form full Korean syllable structures like C + V + C.
Why These Two Vowels Matter
Frequency Both are used very often in everyday Korean words.
Special lip and tongue positions
They are different from previous eight vowels.
Build up structure
They allow you to read/write words with both initial and final consonants, extending your syllable writing skills.
Complete the set of 10 basic vowels, unlocking full Hangul literacy.
Pronunciation Guide
# ㅡ (eu)㉠ Romanized
eu
㉡ Mouth shape
Lips are flat and slightly stretched horizontally—no rounding, no smile.
㉢ Sound
No exact English equivalent. A tight “uh” from the sound of “euh.”
㉣ Tongue position
Slightly raised in the middle, lips grounded and relaxed.
㉤ Tip
Focus on keeping lips neutral—neither rounded nor wide.
# ㅣ (i)
㉠ Romanized
㉠ Romanized
i
㉡ Mouth shape
Lips pulled sideways, like smiling lightly.
㉢ Sound
Like “ee” in “see” or “beet.”
㉣ Tongue position
Raised behind upper teeth.
㉤ Tip
Keep jaw relaxed; don’t let lips tense.
Audio Examples
How to Write Single Vowel Blocks
When alone, these vowels still form a block with a placeholder consonant (ㅇ):으 is written as ㅇ + ㅡ
이 is ㅇ + ㅣ
Ŕemember: Since these are vertical and horizontal combined vowels, they are always written to the right of ‘ㅇ’ (vertical alignment for both).
Writing Blocks with Final Consonants (받침)
Now we can write full C + V + C syllables, using 받침. The structure
Examples
Practice writing and pronouncing each block.
Understanding 받침 Rules
The final consonant sits in the bottom space of a block.
Not all consonants are valid as 받침; today we focus on common ones: ㄱ, ㄴ, ㅂ, ㅅ, ㄷ, ㄹ.
Pronunciation may change:
- In “믿어요” → mit-uh-yo, the final ‘ㄷ’ changes slightly before vowels.
- In flower “꽃” → pronounce as “꼳” [kkot], final 'ㅊ' sounds like 'ㅅ'.
Sample Words & Phrases
Try saying:
글‑자 = geul + ja
숫‑자 = sut + ja
Full Sentence Practice
Put words in simple sentences:- 김치를 믿어요 = gim-chi-reul mi-deo-yo (“I believe kimchi is tasty.”)
- 숫자를 읽어요 = sut-ja-reul il-geo-yo (“I read the numbers.”)
- 집이 늦어요 = jip-i neuj-uh-yo (“The house is late” – not natural but for practice!)
Use C + V + C blocks and make sure you pronounce final consonants clearly.
Common Beginner Mistakes
# Pronouncing 으 like “oo” — wrong! It’s flat.# Mixing ㅣ with “ee” — but don’t round lips.
# Using wrong final consonants — practice common ones well.
# Combining vowels and final consonants incorrectly — always follow block structure.
Tips for Learning Fast
Speak slowly — especially 듣다, 믿다.Watch how your lips move — for flat vs wide vs rounded sounds.
Look for patterns — notice words with 받침 and how they sound in sentences.
Listen to Korean kids’ songs — they often use simple structures with these vowels.
Summary
Great work! Today you learned:- Pronunciation of ㅡ (eu) and ㅣ (i)
- How to write single vowel blocks with placeholder consonant
- Syllable blocks with a final consonant (받침)
- Common words and sentence usage
- Now you know all ten basic Korean vowels. You can:
- Read and write any simple Hangul block
- Pronounce words correctly with final consonants
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