
Sound Change: What happens when ㄱ, ㅋ, and ㄲ are followed by ㄴ or ㅁ
Let’s learn the sound change rule for ㄱ [g/k], ㅋ [k], and ㄲ [gg/kk], one of the most important skills in developing a native accent.
This pronunciation change comes from nasalization. Nasalization is a phonological change in which a sound assimilates to a neighboring nasal sound.
In this post, we take the case of ㄱ [g/k], ㅋ [k], or ㄲ [gg/kk] used as a final consonant.ㄱ [g/k], ㅋ [k], and ㄲ [gg/kk] are stop consonants, formed by stopping the flow of air through the mouth. When they come before ㄴ [n] or ㅁ [m], which are nasal consonants produced with the nose, then ㄱ [g/k], ㅋ [k], ㄲ [gg/kk] are pronounced like ㅇ [ng].
Does this rule seem arbitrary? If so, try saying the 12 phrases below at least three times, fast, keeping the true pronunciation of ㄱ [g/k]. You’ll see how your mouth just wants to turn it into ㅇ [ng]. With practice, you’ll get the hang of the rule and realize the greater ease of pronunciation.
1. ㄱ + ㄴ → ㅇ + ㄴ
Words | Pronunciation | Meaning |
---|---|---|
작년 | [장년] [jangnyeon] | last year |
학년 | [항년] [hangnyeon] | school year, grade |
숙녀 | [숭녀] [sungnyeo] | lady |
2. ㄲ + ㄴ → ㅇ + ㄴ
Words | Pronunciation | Meaning |
---|---|---|
묶는다 | [뭉는다] [mungneunda] | to tie |
꺾는다 | [껑는다] [kkeongneunda] | to break |
먹는다 | [멍는다] [meongneunda] | to eat |
3. ㄱ + ㅁ → ㅇ + ㅁ
Words | Pronunciation | Meaning |
---|---|---|
국물 | [궁물] [gungmul] | broth |
농작물 | [농장물] [nongjangmul] | crop |
한국말 | [한궁말] [hangungmal] | Korean language |
중국말 | [중궁말] [junggungmal] | Chinese language |
목마르다 | [몽마르다] [mongmareuda] | thirsty |
백만 | [뱅만] [bengman] | 1,000,000 |
4. ㅋ + ㅁ → ㅇ + ㅁ
Words | Pronunciation | Meaning |
---|---|---|
부엌만 | [부엉만] [bueongman] | kitchen only |
해 뜰 녘만 | [해 뜰 녕만] [he tteul nyeongman] | sunrise only |
해 질 녘만 | [해 질 녕만] [he jil nyeongman] | sunset only |
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Sound Change: What happens when ㅂ and ㅍ are followed by ㄴ or ㅁ
Reference:
- Jaehoon Yeon, Lucien Brown. Korean: A Comprehensive Grammar (Routledge Comprehensive Grammars). 1st ed. Routledge; 2011.
- Danielle Ooyoung Pyun. Colloquial Korean: The Complete Course For Beginners. Routledge; 2009.
- Henry J. Amen, Kyubyong Park. Korean For Beginners: Mastering Conversational Korean. Tuttle Publishing; 2010.