Learn Korean with Mia Level1 Lesson8: Free Korean Lesson for Beginner

# Lesson 1‑8 – Four Basic Korean Vowels: Pronunciation, Writing, and Reading

We've already learned the overall basic concept of Korean vowels in Lesson 1‑7. Now it's time to focus on four key vowels:

ㅏ (a)
ㅑ (ya)
ㅓ (eo)
ㅕ (yeo)

In this lesson we'll cover:
    How to pronounce each vowel
    How to write them in Hangul blocks
    How to read words that use them
    Common mistakes to avoid
    Practice exercises with audio tips
    How to use them in simple sentences

By the end, you’ll be able to recognize, write, and say these vowels with confidence.

Why Focus on ㅏ ㅑ ㅓ ㅕ?

ㅏ,ㅑ,ㅓ,ㅕ are the four vowels are used very frequently in Korean words and names. They include both vertical plain vowels (ㅏ and ㅓ) and those with the 'y' sound (ㅑ and ㅕ).
Learning these well builds a strong foundation for learning more Korean syllables.

Pronunciation Guide

Let’s look at each vowel one by one:

# ㅏ(a) 

    

    ㉠ Romanized

        a

    ㉡ Mouth shape

        Open your mouth wide, down and up.

    ㉢ Sound

        Like “a” in “father” or “car.”

    ㉣ Tip

        Keep your tongue relaxed in the middle of your mouth.

# ㅑ(ya)  

    

    ㉠ Romanized

        ya

    ㉡ Mouth shape

        Same mouth shape as ㅏ, but with a gentle “y” before it.

    ㉢ Sound

        Like “ya” in “yacht.”

    ㉣ Tip

        Start with a small “y” sound, then open your mouth like ㅏ.


# ㅓ(eo) 

    

    ㉠ Romanized

        eo

    ㉡ Mouth shape

        Open less wide than ㅏ, a lower jaw.

    ㉢ Sound

        Not exactly in English. Similar to “uh” in “cup,” but deeper.

    ㉣ Tip

        Tongue is a bit raised at the back. Keep lips relaxed, not rounded.


# ㅕ(yeo) 

    

    ㉠ Romanized

        yeo

    ㉡ Mouth shape

        Same as ㅓ, but with initial “y.”

    ㉢ Sound

        Like “yuh” in “young.”

    ㉣ Tip

        Add a gentle “y” before ㅓ, keep vowel part the same.


Example Words

Try to say each word slowly and pay attention to the starting sound (y or none) and the vowel length.

How to Write Them in Hangul Blocks

These are all vertical vowels, so they go to the right of the consonant in Hangul blocks.

A syllable block = 1 consonant + 1 vowel.

Example structures

Important!

    There is no vowel under the line; the vowel is always placed to the right.

Reading Practice

Read these blocks slowly out loud:

ㅏ-series:
    가 (ga), 나 (na), 다 (da), 라 (ra), 마 (ma)

ㅑ-series:
    갸 (gya), 냐 (nya), 댜 (dya), 랴 (rya), 먀 (mya)

ㅓ-series:
    거 (geo), 너 (neo), 더 (deo), 러 (reo), 머 (meo)

ㅕ-series:
    겨 (gyeo), 녀 (nyeo), 뎌 (dyeo), 려 (ryeo), 며 (myeo)

Notice how each consonant repeats with different vowel sounds.

Common Beginner Mistakes

ㅏ versus ㅓ→ Tongue position differs!

    ㅏ: tongue neutral, mouth open.
    ㅓ: tongue back, jaw lower.

Mixing ‘a’/’ya’ and ‘eo’/’yeo’:

    ㅑ is not ㅏ + y-sound; they look similar but vowel part is still ㅏ.
    ㅕ is not ㅓ + y-sound; the same caution.

Pronouncing too fast: Speak clearly, especially with vowels unfamiliar to English speakers.

Practice Exercises

Mirror Drill

    Look at your mouth and say each vowel letter 5–10 times.

    Check your lips
        ㅏ / ㅑ = open wide
        ㅓ / ㅕ = tongue back

Audio Drill

    Record your spoken syllables.

    Compare to a Korean speaker recording (e.g., Learn Korean podcasts or apps).

    Note and correct differences.

Block Writing

    Write each consonant + vowel on paper

        For example:

            ㄱ + ㅏ = 가
            ㄱ + ㅑ = 갸

        And so on for 나, 다, etc.

Simple Sentences & Words

Try these beginner-level words and phrases

Tips to Improve Fast

    * Always check your mouth shape — especially for ㅏ vs ㅓ.
    * Repeat slowly — speed comes later.
    * Record and listen — self-auditing is powerful.
    * Use K-Pop lyrics or Korean drama scripts — pick lines with these vowels.