자음
ja'eum[t͡ɕa̠ɯm]
The English phrase "consonants" is translated into Korean as 자음 (ja'eum).
자음 refers to speech sounds produced by blocking or restricting the flow of air through the mouth.
Which one should you use?
In linguistic contexts, 자음 is the antonym of 모음, which is the term used for vowels.
How do you pronounce it?
ja'eum
Did you know?
- In the Korean alphabet, 자음 are not just sounds but are designed as geometric representations of the speech organs. For example, the letter ㄴ mimics the shape of the tongue touching the roof of the mouth.
- Because 자음 implies a 'child sound', Korean vowels are called 모음, which translates to 'mother sound'.
- The word 자음 uses the character 子, meaning 'child', to literally translate as 'child sound'.
Examples in context
- 강River
- 한국어에는 많은 자음이 있어요.hangugeoneun maneun jaeumi isseoyo.There are many consonants in Korean.
- 이 단어의 자음을 읽어 보세요.i daneoui jaeumeul ilgeo boseyo.Please read the consonants of this word.
- 자음과 모음을 구분하기 어려워요.jaeumgwa moeumeul gubunhagi eoryeowoyo.It is hard to distinguish consonants and vowels.
Example conversation
Jihoon is helping Minji study Korean phonics.
- 지훈 Ji-hun민지 씨, 이 자음을 알아요?minji ssi, i jaeumeul arayo?Minji, do you know this consonant?
- 민지 Min-ji아니요, 아직 잘 몰라요.aniyo, ajik jal mollayo.No, I don't know it well yet.
- 지훈 Ji-hun그럼 제가 가르쳐 줄게요.geureom jega gareuchyeo julgeyo.Then I will teach you.
- 민지 Min-ji지훈 씨, 정말 고마워요!jihoon ssi, jeongmal gomawoyo!Jihoon, thank you so much!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 자음, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 자음, CC BY-SA 4.0.
