Chapter 11
Liaison Basics (연음)
When a final consonant is followed by a vowel in the next syllable, the sound often links to the next syllable. This is one of the most important reading patterns in Korean.
Core pattern
If the next syllable starts with ㅇ, try connecting smoothly instead of stopping hard.
| Written | Breakdown | Often sounds like | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 한국어 | 한 + 국 + 어 | han-gu-geo | |
| 먹어요 | 먹 + 어 + 요 | meo-geo-yo | |
| 있어요 | 있 + 어 + 요 | i-sseo-yo (later rules refine) | |
| 밥을 | 밥 + 을 | ba-beul |
Don’t overthink: just practice recognizing ㅇ as a cue to connect sounds.