The ten vowels and the silent circle

An alphabet that was designed

Hangul is not an alphabet that grew – it was designed, in the fifteenth century, to be learned in a morning. Its letters are simple shapes, and the ten basic vowels are the simplest of all: a long line with one or two short strokes on it. Which way the long line runs decides where the vowel stands in a syllable.

A long line standing up, with one short stroke or two. Both are written after the long line.

The same standing long stroke, but the short strokes come in on the LEFT. Here the short one is written first and the long one last.

And a long line lying down, with the short stroke above it or below it.

The lying stroke with TWO short ones: two above and it is yo, two below and it is yu. The short strokes go left to right.

The two vowels with no partner: one long stroke each and no short one at all – the only difference is the direction.

A circle, and at the front of a syllable it makes no sound at all. It is there to fill the consonant’s seat.

A Korean syllable is written as a block, and a block must begin with a consonant. A syllable that begins with a vowel sound therefore borrows one: the circle ㅇ, silent at the front, sits in the consonant’s place. That is how ten vowels become ten readable syllables: 아 야 어 여 오 요 우 유 으 이.

아이a child

오이a cucumber