Basic Vowels II: ㅑ ㅕ ㅛ ㅠ
Learn the y-vowels ㅑ ㅕ ㅛ ㅠ: add one stroke, add a 'y' sound. Read words like 우유, 여우 and 이유.
Ms. Hana · Hangeul letters & pronunciationWhat you will learn in this lesson
- Read and write ㅑ ㅕ ㅛ ㅠ
- Understand the rule: one extra stroke means an extra 'y' sound
- Tell 여 from 요 and 유 from 우 by ear
- Read words such as 우유, 여우, 이유 and 요요
Welcome back. Today is a gentle lesson, because you already know most of it. We will take four vowels you know and add just one small stroke.
One more stroke = a 'y' sound
Look at ㅏ and ㅑ. The only difference is one extra short stroke. That extra stroke adds a 'y' sound at the beginning of the vowel.
ㅏ (a) → ㅑ (ya) ㅓ → ㅕ (y + the ㅓ sound) ㅗ (o) → ㅛ (yo) ㅜ (u) → ㅠ (yu)
The mouth shape at the end is the same as the basic vowel. You only begin with a quick 'y', like the start of 'yes'. Then you move into the vowel you already know.
Note that ㅡ and ㅣ do not get a y-version in this way. Only these four do.
Start with a quick 'y', then open wide for ㅏ. Write the vertical line first, then the two short strokes to the right, top one first.
Start with 'y', then open to ㅓ with relaxed lips. Write the two short strokes first (top, then bottom), then the vertical line.
Start with 'y', then round your lips for ㅗ. Write the two short lines down first (left, then right), then the long horizontal line.
Start with 'y', then push your round lips forward for ㅜ. Write the long horizontal line first, then the two short lines down (left, then right).
Basic vowel and y-vowel side by side
| Basic | With ㅇ | Y-vowel | With ㅇ | Shape |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ㅏ | 아 | ㅑ | 야 | Tall |
| ㅓ | 어 | ㅕ | 여 | Tall |
| ㅗ | 오 | ㅛ | 요 | Flat |
| ㅜ | 우 | ㅠ | 유 | Flat |
Tall vowels go to the right of the consonant; flat vowels go under it. The y-vowels keep the same shape type.
Now you know all ten basic vowels
With today's four letters, you know all ten basic vowels of Hangul:
ㅏ ㅑ ㅓ ㅕ ㅗ ㅛ ㅜ ㅠ ㅡ ㅣ
This is the traditional order that Koreans use in dictionaries and when they recite the vowels. Read it aloud: 아, 야, 어, 여, 오, 요, 우, 유, 으, 이. Notice the rhythm: each basic vowel is followed by its y-partner. Saying this line every day for a week is a very good habit.
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The trickiest pair today is 여 and 요. It is the same trouble as 어 and 오 from last time, just with a 'y' in front. Watch your lips.
Listen and compare
- 여 yeo y + relaxed ㅓ Lips are NOT round. Many learners say 'yo' by mistake. Keep the lips loose.
- 요 yo y + round ㅗ Lips are small and round from start to end.
- 우 u pure u No 'y' at the start. Lips round from the beginning.
- 유 yu y + u A quick 'y' first, then round lips. Like the English word 'you'.
- 아 a pure a Just open your mouth.
- 야 ya y + a Your tongue starts high for the 'y', then drops.
Words you can read now
- 우유 uyu milk 우 + 유. The second block has the 'y'.
- 여우 yeou fox 여 + 우. Keep 여 unrounded!
- 이유 iyu reason 이 + 유.
- 요요 yoyo yo-yo Two round 요 sounds.
- 여유 yeoyu spare time; a relaxed, unhurried feeling 여 + 유. A very useful word in daily life.
- 유아 yua infant, small child 유 + 아.
- 아야 aya Ouch! What you say when something hurts suddenly.
- 오이 oi cucumber Review from the last lesson.
- 아이 ai child Review. Compare 아이 with 아야.
- 이 여우 i yeou this fox 이 here means 'this'. Watch the change from 이 to 여.
Reading drill
| Row | Read left to right |
|---|---|
| 1 | 아 야 어 여 오 요 우 유 으 이 |
| 2 | 여 요 여 요 여 요 |
| 3 | 우 유 우 유 우 유 |
| 4 | 야 여 요 유 |
| 5 | 우유 여우 이유 여유 요요 |
Read each row twice. Row 1 is the full list of basic vowels in dictionary order.
Writing tips
When you write the y-vowels, keep the two short strokes parallel and the same length. If one stroke is much longer, the letter becomes hard to read.
Also, keep the short strokes short. A very long short stroke can make ㅕ look like a different letter. Compare your handwriting with printed text, and try to keep the shapes balanced.
Finally, the order of strokes is the same rule as always: top to bottom, left to right. For ㅛ, both short lines come first, because they are above the long line. For ㅠ, the long line comes first, because it is above the short lines.
A note on 여 in real speech
Because ㅕ is a sound that does not exist in English, learners often say it like 'yaw' or like 'yo'. The best way to fix this is to start from 어. Say 어 a few times with relaxed lips. Then put a short 'y' in front: y-어, y-어, 여. Keep everything else the same.
The same trick works for every y-vowel. Start from the basic vowel you already know, and add 'y' at the front. That is all.
Check quiz
Q1. What does the extra short stroke in ㅑ add?
Q2. Which word means 'milk'?
Q3. When you say 여, your lips are…
Q4. Which of these is the dictionary order of the first four vowels?
Q5. Where does ㅠ go in a block?
Q6. Which word means 'reason'?
You now know all ten basic vowels. That is a real achievement. Next time we start the consonants, and you will be able to read many more words. Take your time and rest well.
Key points
- ㅑ ㅕ ㅛ ㅠ are ㅏ ㅓ ㅗ ㅜ with one extra stroke and a 'y' sound at the start.
- 여 keeps relaxed lips; 요 has round lips.
- The ten basic vowels in order: ㅏ ㅑ ㅓ ㅕ ㅗ ㅛ ㅜ ㅠ ㅡ ㅣ.
- Tall y-vowels (ㅑ ㅕ) go right; flat y-vowels (ㅛ ㅠ) go below.
- Useful words: 우유 (milk), 여우 (fox), 이유 (reason), 여유 (spare time).
Recommended official free resources
- Korean Basic Dictionary (11 languages) — National Institute of Korean Language
- Everyone's Korean — Ministry of Education
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