The Korean double batchim ㄼ is the pair ㄹ + ㅂ at the bottom of a syllable, as in 여덟 (eight) and 넓다 (to be wide). It keeps the left letter: alone or before a consonant it is said [ㄹ], so 여덟 is [여덜] and 넓다 is [널따]. One everyday verb breaks the rule: 밟다 (to step on) is [밥따].
What you'll learn
- Say 여덟 [여덜], 넓다 [널따], 짧다 [짤따] and 얇다 [얄따] correctly.
- State the exception 밟다 [밥따] and the two 넓- compounds that use [넙].
- Pronounce both letters in 짧아요 [짤바요] and 여덟이 [여덜비].
- Predict the [ㄹㄹ] in 넓네 [널레] and the [ㅍ] in 넓히다 [널피다].
Prerequisites: Double Batchim Rules and a clear final ㄹ, covered in the ㄹ batchim lesson. Estimated time: 25 minutes.
What Is the Korean Double Batchim ㄼ?
The Korean double batchim ㄼ is a final consonant cluster made of ㄹ (rieul) on the left and ㅂ (bieup) on the right. Korean grammars call it 리을비읍 받침. Like all double batchim, it is heard in full only before a vowel; elsewhere one letter is silent.
ㄼ follows the default in the general double batchim rules: it keeps the left letter. The ㅂ is silent, and the syllable ends in a held [ㄹ], with the tongue tip resting on the ridge behind the upper teeth.
Article 10 of the Standard Pronunciation Rules (표준 발음법), published by the National Institute of Korean Language (국립국어원), gives 여덟 [여덜] and 넓다 [널따] as examples. The same article names the exceptions, and Article 25 explains the tense consonant after ㄼ verb stems.
Most learners meet ㄼ for the first time in a number, which is why it causes trouble so early.
Why English Speakers Struggle with ㄼ
English speakers struggle with ㄼ because English pronounces "lb" and "lp" in full, as in "bulb" and "help". Reading 여덟 as "yeo-deolb" is a natural English move, but Korean allows only one final consonant sound.
The second difficulty is timing. 여덟 is the native Korean number eight, learned in the first weeks of study alongside 하나, 둘 and 셋. Learners meet a double batchim before they have learned any rule for it, so they either say both letters or guess. Those who guess the right letter say [여덥], which a Korean listener may not recognize at all.
The third difficulty is 밟다. It looks like 넓다 and 짧다 but sounds different, so learners who meet it first may build the wrong rule. The answer is to learn the regular pattern first, then attach 밟다 as a single named exception.
How Is ㄼ Pronounced?
ㄼ is pronounced [ㄹ] at the end of a word and before a consonant. In verb and adjective stems, the next ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅅ or ㅈ also becomes tense, as Article 25 states.
| Word | Meaning | Spoken | Revised Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 여덟 | eight | [여덜] | yeodeol |
| 넓다 | to be wide | [널따] | neolda |
| 짧다 | to be short | [짤따] | jjalda |
| 얇다 | to be thin | [얄따] | yalda |
| 떫다 | to taste astringent | [떨따] | tteolda |
| 엷다 | to be pale, light | [열따] | yeolda |
Notice that Revised Romanization writes neolda, not neoldda. Romanization shows the kept ㄹ but hides the [ㄸ], so the table's spoken column is the one to trust. The tense ㄸ is regular tensification; after ㄼ it is triggered by the stem, not by the ㄹ sound itself.
How Do 넓다 and 널다 Differ?
넓다 (to be wide) and 널다 (to hang out laundry) differ only in the tense consonant. Both start with [널], but 넓다 is [널따] while 널다 is [널다], because Article 25 tenses the ending after a ㄼ stem and not after a plain ㄹ stem. The same contrast appears in 넓고 [널꼬] and 널고 [널고]. If you hear a tight [따] or [꼬] after [널], the word is 넓다; if you hear a soft one, it is 널다.
ㄼ before ㄴ: 넓네 and 짧네
Before ㄴ, ㄼ first becomes [ㄹ], and then the ㄴ turns into [ㄹ] as well. 넓네 (it's wide) is [널레] and 짧네 (it's short) is [짤레]. This second step is Korean liquidization (유음화), the rule that also gives 설날 [설랄].
ㄼ before ㅎ: 넓히다
Before ㅎ, both letters survive: ㄹ stays, and ㅂ merges with ㅎ into an aspirated [ㅍ]. 넓히다 (to widen) is [널피다] and 밟히다 (to be stepped on) is [발피다]. Article 12 of the Standard Pronunciation Rules lists 넓히다 as an example.
The regular pattern is now complete. Two small sets of words do not follow it.
What Is the Exception?
The main exception is the verb 밟다 (to step on): before a consonant, its ㄼ keeps the right letter and is said [ㅂ]. Article 10 of the Standard Pronunciation Rules names the stem 밟- directly.
| Form | Regular ㄼ (넓다) | Exception (밟다) |
|---|---|---|
| + 다 | 넓다 [널따] | 밟다 [밥따] |
| + 고 | 넓고 [널꼬] | 밟고 [밥꼬] |
| + 지 | 넓지 [널찌] | 밟지 [밥찌] |
| + 는 / 네 | 넓네 [널레] | 밟는 [밤는] |
| + 아요 / 어요 | 넓어요 [널버요] | 밟아요 [발바요] |
Read the last row carefully. Before a vowel, 밟다 behaves like every other ㄼ word: both letters are heard, [발바요]. The exception is limited to consonant endings. In 밟는, the [ㅂ] then becomes [ㅁ] before ㄴ, which is nasalization: [밤는].
The 넓- Compounds
The second exception is narrower. In two compound adjectives, 넓- is said [넙]:
- 넓죽하다 (long and broad, of a face or object) → [넙쭈카다]
- 넓둥글다 (broad and round) → [넙뚱글다]
Both words are uncommon, and you may never need to say them. Their value is as a boundary: everywhere else, 넓- keeps [ㄹ], including 넓다 [널따], 넓게 [널께] and 넓이 (width) [널비].
Why Does Korean Spell 여덟 with ㅂ at All?
Korean spells 여덟 with ㅂ because Hangul spelling keeps a word's shape constant even when part of it is silent. The Hangul Orthography (한글 맞춤법) writes each word the same way in every form, so that 여덟 and 여덟이 [여덜비] look related. The ㅂ is silent in 여덟 but heard in 여덟이, and one spelling covers both.
The same orthography makes the opposite choice when the ㅂ is never heard. Article 21 of the Hangul Orthography writes 널찍하다 (roomy), 짤막하다 (shortish) and 얄팍하다 (thin, flimsy) without ㅂ, even though they come from 넓-, 짧- and 얇-. The rule of thumb is simple: if no form of the word ever lets you hear the ㅂ, the ㅂ is not written.
Learn 밟다 as one fact and the two compounds as a footnote. The rest of ㄼ is regular, as the everyday adjectives show.
How Do 짧다 and 넓다 Sound in Use?
짧다 and 넓다 sound different with almost every ending, because ㄼ switches between [ㄹ] and both letters. The table shows the forms you need for basic sentences.
| Ending | 짧다 (short) | 넓다 (wide) |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary form | 짧다 [짤따] | 넓다 [널따] |
| Polite present | 짧아요 [짤바요] | 넓어요 [널버요] |
| Formal present | 짧습니다 [짤씀니다] | 넓습니다 [널씀니다] |
| Modifier | 짧은 [짤븐] | 넓은 [널븐] |
| "and" | 짧고 [짤꼬] | 넓고 [널꼬] |
| Adverb | 짧게 [짤께] | 넓게 [널께] |
| Past polite | 짧았어요 [짤바써요] | 넓었어요 [널버써요] |
A useful sentence to practise is 머리가 짧아요 (my hair is short), [머리가 짤바요]. Another is 방이 넓어요 (the room is spacious), [방이 널버요]. In both, listen for the l and the soft b side by side in the middle of the word.
The two rarer adjectives work the same way in sentences. 종이가 얇아요 (the paper is thin) is [종이가 얄바요]. 감이 떫어요 (the persimmon is astringent) is [가미 떨버요]: the ㅁ of 감 links to 이, and the ㅂ of 떫 links to 어요. Saying these sentences slowly, syllable by syllable, is a good way to feel where each letter of ㄼ lands.
How Is 여덟 Pronounced before a Vowel?
Before a vowel particle, 여덟 is pronounced with both letters: 여덟이 [여덜비], 여덟을 [여덜블], 여덟에 [여덜베]. The ㅂ moves to the start of the next syllable and is said as a soft b.
Before a counter or a noun, 여덟 stays [여덜]. 여덟 명 (eight people) is [여덜명] and 여덟 마리 (eight animals) is [여덜마리]. Counters that begin with ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅅ or ㅈ are less predictable in everyday speech, so check them with audio rather than with a rule. The numbers themselves are covered in Korean numbers.
One more number uses ㄼ: 열여덟 (eighteen). It is said [열려덜], because an [ㄴ] is inserted before 여 and then becomes [ㄹ] after the ㄹ of 열. That is a separate rule, n-insertion, but it is worth hearing once so the number does not surprise you.
Worked Example: 여덟
Follow 여덟 (eight) through three forms.
- 여덟 alone. Nothing follows. ㄼ is a left-letter pair, and 여덟 is not 밟다, so keep ㄹ. Say [여덜], with the tongue tip held on the ridge and no b.
- 여덟이 (eight, subject). The particle 이 starts with a vowel. Keep ㄹ in the second syllable and move ㅂ to the third. Say [여덜비].
- 여덟 명 (eight people). The counter 명 starts with ㅁ, which cannot become tense. Keep ㄹ. Say [여덜명].
You'll know you have it when 여덟 ends like 물 (water), with a held l, and 여덟이 has three syllables with a soft b at the start of the third.
Common Mistakes with ㄼ
Mistake 1: saying both letters. Learners often say 여덟 as "yeo-deolb". Actually only [ㄹ] is heard: [여덜].
Mistake 2: keeping the right letter. Learners often guess [여덥] or [넙따]. Actually ㄼ keeps the left letter: [여덜], [널따]. Only 밟다 and two 넓- compounds use [ㅂ].
Mistake 3: missing the tense consonant. Learners often say 넓다 as [널다] and 짧고 as [짤고]. Actually the ending is tense after a ㄼ stem: [널따], [짤꼬].
Mistake 4: overextending the exception. Learners who learn 밟다 [밥따] sometimes say 밟아요 as [바바요]. Actually the exception is limited to consonant endings; before a vowel you hear both letters: [발바요].
Mistake 5: forgetting liquidization. Learners often say 넓네 as [널네]. Actually the ㄴ becomes [ㄹ]: [널레].
Mistake 6: a hard p before a vowel. Learners often say 짧아요 with a strong English p, close to [짤파요]. Actually the moved ㅂ sits between two voiced sounds, so it is soft and close to an English b: [짤바요]. A hard p sounds like the aspirated ㅍ, which is a different consonant.
All six mistakes disappear once you ask the same question before every ㄼ word: what comes next, a vowel or a consonant?
Practice: Korean Double Batchim ㄼ
Exercise 1. Write the spoken form.
- 얇다
- 짧지
- 떫다
- 밟고
Exercise 2. Write the spoken form. Watch for vowels.
- 여덟을
- 얇아요
- 넓은
- 밟아요
Exercise 3. Write the spoken form. Watch for ㄴ and ㅎ.
- 짧네
- 넓히다
- 밟는
Answers.
Exercise 1: 1 [얄따], 2 [짤찌], 3 [떨따], 4 [밥꼬] (exception).
Exercise 2: 1 [여덜블], 2 [얄바요], 3 [널븐], 4 [발바요].
Exercise 3: 1 [짤레], 2 [널피다], 3 [밤는].
If you wrote [여덥] or [얍따] anywhere, review the left-letter rule and say 여덟 and 얇다 alongside 물 to fix the final [ㄹ].
Where to Go Next
The next lesson, Next: Korean Double Batchim ㄵ, covers another left-letter pair, as in 앉다 [안따] and 앉아요 [안자요]. All pair lessons are listed in Double Batchim.
This lesson does not settle every counter after 여덟. Forms such as 여덟 개 and 여덟 살 are heard with and without a tense consonant in everyday speech. Min-ji Park reviewed and signed off the forms and audio on this page on 15 October 2026.
In short, the Korean double batchim ㄼ is said [ㄹ] alone and before consonants, with both letters before a vowel, and the one everyday exception is 밟다 [밥따].
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say 여덟? Say [여덜], with a clear l at the end and no b. 여덟 (eight) ends in ㄼ, which keeps its left letter, so the ㅂ is silent. Revised Romanization writes it yeodeol. The ㅂ comes back only before a vowel: 여덟이 [여덜비], 여덟을 [여덜블]. Before a counter such as 명, it stays [여덜]: 여덟 명 [여덜명].
Why is 밟다 different? 밟다 is different because the Standard Pronunciation Rules, Article 10, list it as a named exception: the stem 밟- is said [밥] before a consonant. The rule records how the word is actually pronounced rather than deriving it from a general pattern, so the simplest approach is to memorize it: 밟다 [밥따], 밟고 [밥꼬], 밟는 [밤는].
Is 넓다 [널따]? Yes. 넓다 (to be wide) is pronounced [널따]. ㄼ keeps the left letter, ㄹ, and the ㄷ of the ending becomes tense after a ㄼ verb stem, as Article 25 states. The ㅂ appears only before a vowel: 넓어요 [널버요], 넓은 [널븐]. The two compounds 넓죽하다 and 넓둥글다 are the only exceptions with [넙].
How is 짧아요 pronounced? 짧아요 is pronounced [짤바요]. The vowel ending 아요 lets both letters of ㄼ be heard: ㄹ stays in the first syllable and ㅂ moves to the second. Make sure the second syllable starts with a soft b sound, not a p, and that you do not drop the ㄹ, which would give [짜바요].
Does 떫다 follow the rule? Yes. 떫다 (to taste astringent, like an unripe persimmon) follows the regular ㄼ pattern: [떨따] before a consonant, with the ㄷ tense, and 떫어요 [떨버요] before a vowel. 얇다 (thin) [얄따] and 엷다 (pale) [열따] behave the same way. Only 밟다 and the two 넓- compounds break the rule.