Compound Korean Vowels: ㅘ ㅙ ㅚ ㅝ ㅞ ㅟ ㅢ
Beyond simple vowels and y-diphthongs, Hangul features seven compound vowels formed by combining two vowel elements: ㅘ, ㅙ, ㅚ, ㅝ, ㅞ, ㅟ, and ㅢ. In this lesson, you will learn how these letters are constructed and how to pronounce their w-glides and diphthongs effortlessly.
See the sound, tap the matching Hangul letter.
The Logic Behind Combined Vowel Letters
Compound vowels in Korean combine a horizontal vowel (ㅗ or ㅜ or ㅡ) with a vertical vowel (ㅏ, ㅐ, ㅓ, ㅔ, or ㅣ). Five of these compounds create 'w' glide sounds because the horizontal vowel serves as a rounded lip onset. When ㅗ combines with ㅏ, you get ㅘ (wa). When ㅗ combines with ㅐ, you get ㅙ (wae). When ㅜ combines with ㅓ, you get ㅝ (wo). When ㅜ combines with ㅔ, you get ㅞ (we). When ㅜ combines with ㅣ, you get ㅟ (wi). The remaining two combinations, ㅚ (oe) and ㅢ (ui), feature unique historical developments: ㅚ is pronounced today like 'we', while ㅢ blends the flat ㅡ and high ㅣ into a singular diphthong.
| Letter | Romanization | Components | Sound Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| ㅘ | wa | ㅗ + ㅏ | like wa in water or wash |
| ㅙ | wae | ㅗ + ㅐ | like wa in wax or wedding |
| ㅚ | oe | ㅗ + ㅣ | like we in wet, rounded onset |
| ㅝ | wo | ㅜ + ㅓ | like wo in won or world |
| ㅞ | we | ㅜ + ㅔ | like we in west or weather |
| ㅟ | wi | ㅜ + ㅣ | like wee or we in weekend |
| ㅢ | ui | ㅡ + ㅣ | blend of eu and ee, like ui in quick |
Modern Pronunciation of ㅙ, ㅚ, and ㅞ
One pleasant surprise for Korean learners is that in contemporary standard Korean, the three compound vowels ㅙ, ㅚ, and ㅞ sound virtually indistinguishable. All three are typically pronounced as 'we' (like the English word 'wet'). You will encounter all three in different vocabulary words due to historical spelling rules, such as 왜 (why), 회사 (company), and 궤도 (orbit). Remembering that they sound identical in everyday conversation takes immense pressure off your listening and speaking practice, allowing you to focus on recognizing their distinctive written forms.
Reading Strategies for Complex Blocks
- Notice how horizontal vowels wrap under the consonant while vertical vowels sit beside it.
- Do not stress over telling ㅙ, ㅚ, and ㅞ apart by ear; treat them all as a friendly 'we' sound.
- For ㅟ, start with rounded lips and push smoothly into the bright vowel sound.
- For ㅢ, glide rapidly from the neutral throat sound into the smiling vowel.
- Recognize compound vowels as single syllable units rather than two separate sounds.
With compound vowels mastered, you now understand all twenty-one vowels in the Hangul writing system. Take a moment to practice matching these shapes in the interactive challenge below.