Learn more diphthongs
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| This is the 요 (yo) sound, and this is the vs 여 (yeo) sound. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to tell them apart, PLUS you'll be practicing them and on your way to perfect pronunciation! |
| I'm Joyce, and this is Korean Pronunciation Through Minimal Pairs. |
| First is 요 (yo). This is the 요 (yo) sound in 안녕하세요, 좋아요, and other words. |
| 여 (yeo) is the 여 (yeo) sound in 여자, 여기, 여행, and other words. |
| These two vowels are also diphthongs. |
| To make the 요 (yo) sound: round your lips slightly as if saying ㅗ (o) (o as in "go"). Then, add a slight y sound at the beginning by slightly raising the middle of your tongue towards the roof of your mouth. It's similar to yo in "yoga." |
| 요 |
| [3 sec pause] |
| 요 (enunciated) |
| [3 sec pause] |
| 요 |
| To make the 여 (yeo) sound: slightly open your mouth and pull your tongue back as if pronouncing ㅓ (eo) (uh as in "but"). Then, add a slight y sound at the beginning by raising the middle of your tongue towards the roof of your mouth. The sound is similar to yaw in "yawn," but with a softer and more relaxed quality. |
| 여 |
| [3 sec pause] |
| 여 (enunciated) |
| [3 sec pause] |
| 여 |
| The difference between these sounds lies in the shape of the mouth and the position of the tongue. |
| 요 is pronounced with the lips rounded and the mouth more closed. |
| 여 is pronounced with a more open mouth and a relaxed tongue. |
| Listen carefully and repeat after me. |
| 요 여 |
| [3 sec pause] |
| 요 여 (enunciated) |
| [3 sec pause] |
| 요 여 |
| Feel the difference in your mouth as your lips round and close for 요 (yo), then relax and open wide for 여 (yeo). |
| Listen and repeat or speak along with me. |
| Ready? |
| 용 (yong)/영 (yeong) |
| "dragon"/"zero" |
| (space for repetition) |
| 용 (yong)/영 (yeong) |
| "dragon"/"zero" |
| 요리 (yo-ri)/여리 (yeo-ri) |
| "cooking, cuisine"/"delicate, soft" |
| (space for repetition) |
| 요리 (yo-ri)/여리 (yeo-ri) |
| "cooking, cuisine"/"delicate, soft" |
| 요정 (yo-jeong)/여정 (yeo-jeong) |
| "fairy"/"journey, itinerary" |
| (space for repetition) |
| 요정 (yo-jeong)/여정 (yeo-jeong) |
| "fairy"/"journey, itinerary" |
| 요가 (yo-ga)/여가 (yeo-ga) |
| "yoga"/"leisure, free time" |
| (space for repetition) |
| 요가 (yo-ga)/여가 (yeo-ga) |
| "yoga"/"leisure, free time" |
| Let's review. Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then, repeat after me, focussing on pronunciation. |
| Do you remember the sound pronounced with the lips rounded and the mouth more closed? |
| (3) |
| (2) |
| (1) |
| 요 |
| (1) |
| 요 |
| And the sound pronounced with a more open mouth and a relaxed tongue? |
| (3) |
| (2) |
| (1) |
| 여 |
| (1) |
| 여 |
| Let's practice. |
| Compare the sounds in these two words. |
| 용 (yong)/영 (yeong) |
| "dragon"/"zero" |
| (1) |
| 용 (yong)/영 (yeong) |
| "dragon"/"zero" |
| (1) |
| Let's try another. |
| 요가 (yoga)/여가 (yeoga) |
| "yoga"/"leisure, free time" |
| (1) |
| 요가 (yoga)/여가 (yeoga) |
| "yoga"/"leisure, free time" |
| (1) |
| Now listen to the following sentences. |
| 용이 숫자 영을 둘러싸고 있어요. |
| (Yong-i sut-ja yeong-eul dul-reo-ssa-go iss-eo-yo.) "The dragon is circling around the number zero." |
| (3 sec pause) |
| 여가 시간에 요가를 해요. |
| (Yeo-ga si-gan-e yo-ga-reul hae-yo.) |
| "I do yoga in my leisure time." |
| (3 sec pause) |
| 용, 영 |
| Read the following sentence out loud, focussing on the different sounds. |
| (pause) |
| 이 용어는 영어에서 왔어요. |
| (I yong-eo-neun Yeong-eo-e-seo wass-eo-yo.) |
| "This terminology came from English." |
| (3 sec pause) |
| 용어, 영어 |
| By the way, if you watched til the end |
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