Learning a second (or third, or fourth) language is never easy, but some transitions are easier than others. Due to the vast linguistic differences between the English and Korean languages, Korean speakers looking to learn English will often run into some problem areas.
English is a language with an Indo-European root, while Korean is an isolated language with no proven relation to any language family. Their speech rhythms, stress patterns, and alphabets are therefore widely distinct. For example, there are 10 vowel sounds and 14 consonants in Korean , compared to 20 vowel sounds (15 vowel sounds in American English ) and 24 English consonant sounds .
Despite these challenges, many Korean speakers have successfully mastered English pronunciation and comprehension. There's no need to worry—even the trickiest words can be pronounced flawlessly with a bit of practice!
This guide is specifically designed to boost English pronunciation for Korean speakers looking to speak fluently and confidently like native speakers. Take your spoken English to a whole new level with a targeted accent training plan that addresses the following common pronunciation challenges for Korean speakers:
1. Consonant Clusters In Korean, vowels are often inserted between consonants. For example, the Korean word “플랜트” ("plant" in English) includes extra vowels in between consonant sounds to facilitate simpler pronunciation. In English, consonant cluster sounds are often pronounced without these additional vowels.
Therefore, when many Korean speakers encounter consonant clusters in English, they tend to mistakenly add these extra vowels. To overcome this challenge, focus on transiting between these words smoothly without inserting extra vowels.
For “plant,” start by pronouncing each individual sound slowly. Begin with just a /p/ sound, then pronounce /p/ and /l/ as individual sounds before slowly increasing the speed and decreasing the pause between the two sounds until it sounds—and feels—natural.
Consonant clusters are common in English, and they don’t always appear at the beginning of the word. Pronouncing these clusters correctly is a key aspect to native-level pronunciation in English.
2. /ə/ as in "about" Many English vowel sounds don't exist in Korean, and trying to substitute them with familiar ones in the Korean language can be problematic for native Korean speakers.
Vowel length and tension is a recurring problem for Korean speakers looking to perfect their English pronunciation.
The vowel sound /ə/ in the first syllable of "about” is known as the schwa and is one of the most common vowel sounds in English. In contrast, it doesn’t even exist in Korean. If you substitute this with a more pronounced vowel sound, like /ɛ/ in “set," your English will sound accented at best, and at worst, it will introduce confusion and miscommunication.
The schwa sound is short and unstressed , much like a quick, soft “uh.” To pronounce it correctly, keep your mouth relaxed, with your tongue in a central, neutral position. Watch the following video for a complete explanation of the unstressed schwa sound, delivered by BoldVoice Coach Ron:
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3. /æ/ as in "bat" Many Korean speakers don't open their mouths wide enough when making the /æ/ vowel, which can make the sound come out closer to /ɛ/, as in "bet."
To get the /æ/ sound right, you need to open your mouth wide and keep your tongue low and flat. This sound is important because it helps you distinguish between words. For instance, mispronouncing the word "bat" in this way will lead to the pronunciation "bet," which has an entirely different meaning.
4. /ʌ/ as in "cup" This sound is a central vowel , pronounced with the tongue in the middle of the mouth. Korean has no exact match; the closest might be "ㅓ” (pronounced as "aw" in English), which is still not quite the same sound.
Listen closely to the /ʌ/ sound and notice how it differs from "ㅓ":
5. /eɪ/ as in "say" /eɪ/ is a diphthong , which is a combination of two vowel sounds to form a glide.
Check out BoldVoice Coach Eliza explaining the mechanics of the /eɪ/ pronunciation in detail:
6. /ʊ/ as in "put" This sound is identical to the Korean language "우" sound but is voiced for a shorter period. You’ll find it in English words like "foot," "good," "cook," and "put."
For this sound, the lips are less rounded and more relaxed. The tongue is also positioned slightly lower and more relaxed in the mouth.
7. /ɪ/ as in "bit" This sound doesn’t exist in the Korean language, and it often impacts overall English pronunciation for Korean speakers. Many times, it is incorrectly substituted with a more tense vowel like /i/, leading to “beet” instead of “bit.” This, in turn, changes the meaning from a small piece to a root vegetable.
The correct sound is achieved by positioning your tongue slightly higher in the front of your mouth, relaxed, with neutral lips. To practice this tricky sound, use minimal pairs like "ship" and "sheep" or "mitt" and "meat."
8. /ɑ/ as in "cot" The /ɑ/ sound, as in "cot" in American English , is pronounced with your tongue low and pushed towards the back of your mouth. Keep your lips relaxed and not rounded.
This sound feels deep, full, and open. To practice, try saying "cot" and make sure your mouth is wider and your tongue is lower compared to when you say "cat."
9. The “Th” Sound (/θ/ and /ð/) The English “th” sound is another sound that doesn’t exist or have a direct equivalent in Korean. Native Korean speakers sometimes substitute this sound with /s/, therefore “think” might sound like “sink.”
This sound has the voiceless /θ/ sound as in think," "thank," and "thumb," and the voiced /ð/ as in "this," "that," and "there."
For the “th” in “think” (/θ/), which is voiceless, push air through without using your vocal cords while keeping the tip of your tongue between your top and bottom teeth. And for the “th” in “this” (/ð/), which is voiced, use your vocal cords to create a buzzing sound with your tongue in the same position.
10. The “R” and “L” Consonants Words with the American "R" and "L" account for a large number of pronunciation problems for Korean speakers of English. These sounds are both distinct and need to be pronounced differently to avoid confusion.
In Korean, the singular consonant “ㄹ” replaces both the "R" and "L" sounds depending on its position in a word. For example, it's normal to pronounce "라면” as “Ramyeon” and "Lamyeon."
To pronounce the English "R" as in "rip," pull your tongue back without touching the roof of your mouth. For the English "L," as in "lip," touch the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth.
Pronouncing these sounds accurately is important because otherwise, you'll encounter communication problems when English speakers mishear your intended words as something else.
11. Word Stress and Intonation Many common pronunciation mistakes for Koreans arise from word stress and intonation . In English, stress patterns can alter the meaning of words, with certain syllables receiving more emphasis. They also express emotions or indicate questions, like raising the pitch at the end of a question.
For example, “permit” with stress on the first syllable (“PER-mit”) is a noun, but it becomes a verb when the stress is on the second syllable, as in “per-MIT.”
In contrast, intonation in Korean mainly serves to convey emotions or form questions rather than affecting word meaning. This means that native Korean speakers leaning English need to train themselves to be aware of stress and intonation in order to achieve correct pronunciation in English.
Achieve Native-Level Pronunciation with BoldVoice Mastering English pronunciation as a native Korean speaker can feel like a significant hurdle, but with dedication and the right approach, it is entirely achievable. Consistent practice, particularly in areas where Korean and English differ most, will bring noticeable improvements.
The BoldVoice app is here to guide you through each step, providing expert tools to help you confidently communicate in English. Targeted lessons delivered by professional accent coaches alongside interactive AI-powered exercises with immediate pronunciation feedback will transform your English pronunciation in no time.
And with a 7-day free trial, there’s no better time to take the first step toward clearer, more effective English communication. Download BoldVoice today and start your journey to fluency.
