How to Pronounce 앉다: Sounds, Rules and Examples

What you'll learn

• Say 앉다 as [안따] with a tense ㄸ.
• Say 앉아요 as [안자요] and 앉으세요 as [안즈세요].
• Explain why the ㅈ is silent in some forms and returns in others.
• Say the classroom request 여기 앉으세요.

Before you start: know that a batchim is the final consonant at the bottom of a block, and a double batchim is a pair of them. The lesson takes about 10 minutes, and audio plays only when you press a button.

Last updated: 2026-10-09. The Korean text, romanization and audio scripts on this page were generated and reviewed and signed off by Min-ji Park on 15 October 2026.

How to Pronounce 앉다 in Four Steps

To pronounce 앉다, say "an" and then a tense "tta". The ㅈ in the spelling is not heard.

1. Start with 아. Open your mouth wide: "ah". The first ㅇ is silent.
2. Close with ㄴ. Touch the tongue tip to the ridge behind your upper teeth. This is the only final sound.
3. Ignore the ㅈ. It is written but not pronounced in this form.
4. Say 따 (tta). Make the ㄷ tense: tight tongue, little air, a short firm "tta" and not "da".

You will know it worked when the second syllable sounds like a crisp "tta" and the first ends with the tongue tip up. Next, the two rules behind it.

Which Rules Change 앉다?

Two rules change 앉다: reduction of the double batchim, and tensification after a verb stem that ends in ㄴ. The Standard Pronunciation Rules (표준 발음법) of the National Institute of Korean Language (국립국어원) give both. Article 10 says that for ㄵ the first consonant, ㄴ, is the one pronounced at the end of a word or before a consonant. Article 24 says that after a verb stem ending in ㄴ (including ㄵ), the next consonant ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅅ or ㅈ is pronounced tense. So the ㄷ of 다 becomes ㄸ.

With a vowel ending, Article 14 applies instead: the second consonant of the double batchim moves to the next syllable. So 앉아요 is [안자요]. The moved ㅈ stays plain, because only ㅅ turns tense in that rule. For the full chart, see double batchim ㄵ, and for the tensification rule, see verb stem tensification. Now the related forms.

How Does 앉다 Change in Other Forms?

앉다 changes by ending: a consonant ending gives a tense sound, and a vowel ending releases the ㅈ. This pattern is the same for every verb stem that ends in ㄵ, so the table doubles as a model.

Hear two of the forms.

The most useful form in a classroom is the polite request.

The ending -으세요 is the polite request ending used after a stem that ends in a consonant. For more verbs that follow the same patterns, see Korean verbs. Now one complete trace.

Worked Example: from Spelling to Sound

The worked example below traces 앉다 from the written form to the spoken form. Follow each step.

1. Split into blocks. 앉 / 다.
2. Find the batchim. 앉 ends in the double batchim ㄵ (ㄴ + ㅈ).
3. Look at what follows. 다 starts with the consonant ㄷ, so no vowel follows.
4. Apply the rules. The ㄵ is reduced to ㄴ. The ㄷ after a stem ending in ㄴ turns tense, ㄸ.
5. Write the spoken form. 안 + 따 = [안따].
6. Say it aloud with a firm, short "tta".

The same routine, split, find the batchim, look at the next sound, apply the rule, works for every word on this site. It is taught in full in the batchim method. Now the usual mistakes.

Why Do Learners Say Anjda?

Learners say "anjda" or "andah" because they read the spelling letter by letter. Four assumptions cause most errors.

• Learners often assume that the ㅈ is pronounced in 앉다. Actually it is silent before a consonant, because Korean allows one consonant at the end of a syllable.
• Learners often assume that the ㄷ of 다 stays soft. Actually it turns tense, because Article 24 makes the first consonant of an ending tense after a verb stem ending in ㄴ or ㅁ.
• Learners often assume that 앉아요 is spoken [안아요]. Actually the ㅈ moves onto the next syllable, giving [안자요].
• Learners often assume that the moved ㅈ becomes tense. Actually it stays plain, because only ㅅ turns tense in this rule.

Fix the first assumption and the others follow. Now test yourself.

Practice and Answer Key

Do the exercises after listening. Cover the answer key until you finish.

1. Dictionary form. How is 앉다 pronounced?
2. Polite. How is 앉아요 pronounced?
3. Request. How is 앉으세요 pronounced?
4. Silent. Which letter of ㄵ is silent in 앉다?
5. Tense. Which letter of 다 turns tense?

Answer key: 1. [안따]. 2. [안자요]. 3. [안즈세요]. 4. ㅈ. 5. ㄷ.

Common questions follow.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I pronounce 앉다? Say [안따]: an, tta. The stem 앉 ends in the double batchim ㄵ, a pair of ㄴ and ㅈ, and only the ㄴ is pronounced before a consonant. The ㄷ of 다 then becomes the tense sound ㄸ, so the ending is "tta". Revised Romanization writes the dictionary form as anda.

Is 앉아요 pronounced 안자요? Yes. When a vowel follows, as with -아요, the ㄴ stays on the stem and the ㅈ moves to the next syllable: [안자요]. The moved ㅈ stays plain and does not turn tense, so the third beat is "ja", not "jja". The same pattern gives 앉으세요 as [안즈세요].

Why is the ㄷ in 앉다 tense? Verb stems that end in ㄴ, including ㄵ, make the first consonant of the next ending tense. The Standard Pronunciation Rules call this a tensification rule. So 다 is spoken as 따, and 앉고 is spoken [안꼬]. The spelling does not show the tense sound, which is why learners miss it.

How do I say please sit in Korean? Say 앉으세요 (anjeuseyo), spoken [안즈세요]. It is the polite request form of 앉다, used in classrooms, offices and homes when you invite someone to take a seat. The ㅈ moves onto 으, and the syllables are even. Add 여기 (here) to say "please sit here".

Next Steps and Scope

How to pronounce 앉다 comes down to two rules: the ㅈ is silent before a consonant and the next ㄷ turns tense, giving [안따], while a vowel ending releases the ㅈ. This lesson does not cover every verb with a double batchim, it does not score your speech, and the romanization of 앉으세요 is a reading aid reviewed and signed off by Min-ji Park on 15 October 2026. The word is common in classrooms, so practise the request until it is automatic. Continue with Korean verbs, and return to How to Pronounce Korean Words for the word list.

Next in the series: How to Pronounce 없어요.