Korean for Beginners: Ask How to Pronounce a Word and Repeat It Back
Learn to ask how a Korean word is pronounced, then repeat it back to check you have it right, using polite beginner-level Korean.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
When you meet a new Korean word, the most useful thing you can do is ask how to say it out loud, then repeat it back so the other person can confirm or correct you. This is different from asking someone to repeat something you did not hear. Here you are learning the pronunciation of a word, so you point to the word, ask how it is pronounced, listen, and say it back. In this lesson you will use polite Korean that works with teachers, colleagues, and people you have just met. You will also learn how to check one part of a word, such as a final consonant, and how to thank the person after they help you.
By the end, you can…
- ask how a specific Korean word is pronounced.
- repeat a word back and ask whether my pronunciation is correct.
- ask about one part of a word, such as the last syllable, and thank the person for helping.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
이 단어 어떻게 발음해요?
How do you pronounce this word?
i dan-eo eo-tteo-ke bal-eum-hae-yo?
Polite and natural. Use it while pointing at a written word. 이 단어 means 'this word'.
이거 어떻게 읽어요?
How do you read this?
i-geo eo-tteo-ke il-geo-yo?
Slightly more casual but still polite. 이거 means 'this thing', so it works for a word, a sign, or a menu item.
이렇게 발음하는 거 맞아요?
Is it correct to pronounce it like this?
i-reo-ke bal-eum-ha-neun geo ma-ja-yo?
Say this after you repeat the word. It asks the listener to confirm your attempt.
다시 한 번 들려주세요.
Please let me hear it one more time.
da-si han beon deul-lyeo-ju-se-yo.
Use this when you need to hear the word again before trying it yourself. It is polite and clear.
마지막 글자 발음이 어려워요.
The pronunciation of the last letter is difficult.
ma-ji-mak geul-ja bal-eum-i eo-ryeo-wo-yo.
Use this to focus on one part of the word. You can replace 마지막 글자 with 첫 글자 (first letter) or 받침 (final consonant).
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core question is 어떻게 발음해요? (eo-tteo-ke bal-eum-hae-yo?), which means 'How do you pronounce it?'. Put the word or phrase before it: 이 단어 어떻게 발음해요? (this word), 이름 어떻게 발음해요? (name), or 서울 어떻게 발음해요? (Seoul). To check your own attempt, repeat the word and add 이렇게 발음하는 거 맞아요? (Is it correct to pronounce it like this?). The verb 발음하다 means 'to pronounce', and 맞아요 means 'is correct'. Together they let you confirm what you heard instead of guessing.
When to use it
Use these questions when you can see the word but do not know how to say it. For example, in a Korean class you can point to a word and say 이 단어 어떻게 발음해요? If the word has a tricky final consonant, say 받침 발음이 어려워요 (The final consonant is difficult). After the other person says the word, repeat it and ask 이렇게 발음하는 거 맞아요? This is not the same as asking someone to repeat a sentence you missed; here your goal is to learn and confirm the pronunciation of a specific word.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
이 단어 어떻게 발음해요?
How do you pronounce this word?i dan-eo eo-tteo-ke bal-eum-hae-yo?‘반갑습니다’예요. 반갑습니다.
It's '반갑습니다'. 반갑습니다.ban-gap-seum-ni-da-ye-yo. ban-gap-seum-ni-da.반갑습니다. 이렇게 발음하는 거 맞아요?
반갑습니다. Is it correct to pronounce it like this?ban-gap-seum-ni-da. i-reo-ke bal-eum-ha-neun geo ma-ja-yo?네, 맞아요. 아주 잘하셨어요.
Yes, that's right. You did very well.ne, ma-ja-yo. a-ju jal-ha-syeo-sseo-yo.A little context goes a long way
Polite speech is the safe default with teachers, older people, and strangers. The -요 ending in 발음해요 and 맞아요 keeps your question polite without being formal. With close friends your age, you can drop -요 and say 이거 어떻게 읽어? and 이렇게 발음하는 거 맞아? but use the polite forms first until you know the relationship.
One thing to watch for
Using 어떻게 말해요? (eo-tteo-ke mal-hae-yo?) to ask how to pronounce a word.
Try this instead: 어떻게 말해요? asks how to say something in Korean, as in 'How do you say apple in Korean?' For pronunciation of a written word, use 어떻게 발음해요? or 어떻게 읽어요? Example: 이 단어 어떻게 발음해요? (How do you pronounce this word?) is about sound, while 사과를 한국어로 어떻게 말해요? (How do you say apple in Korean?) is about finding the word.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You see the word 감사합니다 in your notebook and want to know how to say it. What do you ask?
Show a sample answer
이 단어 어떻게 발음해요?
This politely asks how to pronounce this word. You could also say 이거 어떻게 읽어요? if you are pointing at it; both are correct in this situation.
2After your teacher says a word, you repeat it and want to check that your pronunciation is right. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
이렇게 발음하는 거 맞아요?
This asks 'Is it correct to pronounce it like this?' after your attempt. A valid alternative is 제 발음 맞아요? (Is my pronunciation correct?).
3The last syllable of a word is hard for you. How do you ask about just that part?
Show a sample answer
마지막 글자 발음이 어려워요.
This says the pronunciation of the last letter is difficult, which invites help with that part. You can also say 받침 발음이 어려워요 if the problem is the final consonant.
Point to the word, ask 어떻게 발음해요?, listen, repeat it back, and check with 이렇게 발음하는 거 맞아요? Then thank the person. This turns every new word into a short pronunciation lesson.
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