Key Facts
- Hangul: 한글; Revised Romanization: hangeul
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native
- Register: Neutral; the name of the Korean writing system, not the language.
Korean Alphabet in Korean: What Does 한글 Mean?
한글 means the Korean alphabet and Hangeul, in a neutral register. It is the name of the writing system, not of the language. It is a native word, and the Revised Romanization spelling is hangeul.
How Do You Pronounce 한글?
Romanized hangeul, two syllables: han and geul. The final ㄹ links to a following vowel, so 한글은 is said han-geu-reun (hangeureun).
Example Sentences with 한글
한글은 배우기 쉬워요.
Hangeureun baeugi swiwoyo.
Hangeul is easy to learn.
쉬워요 means easy, and 배우기 turns learning into a noun. The sentence praises the alphabet.
저는 한글을 읽을 수 있어요.
Jeoneun hangeureul ilgeul su isseoyo.
I can read Hangeul.
읽을 수 있어요 means can read. The sentence claims literacy in the alphabet, not fluency in the language.
한글날에는 한글을 기념해요.
Hangeullareneun hangeureul ginyeomhaeyo.
On Hangeul Day, we commemorate Hangeul.
한글날 is Hangeul Day, and 기념해요 means commemorate. The sentence repeats the word to link holiday and alphabet.
Common Phrases and Collocations
Learning, consonants and the holiday are the three collocations.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 한글을 배우다 | to learn Hangeul |
| 한글 자음 | Hangeul consonant |
| 한글날 | Hangeul Day |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: using 한글 to mean the Korean language, as in "I study 한글" when you mean the whole language.
Correct: the language is 한국어. 한글 is only the writing system.
한글 Compared with Similar Words
Three words circle 한글. 한국어 is the language, and 한글 is only the alphabet. 글자 is a single written letter or character. 문자 is the general term for script or character.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 한국어 | Korean language | The language; 한글 is only the alphabet. |
| 글자 | letter / character | A single written character. |
| 문자 | script / character | General term for writing systems. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
한글 is native Korean with no hanja form.
Cultural Note
Hangeul Day (한글날, October 9) is a public holiday celebrating the alphabet created under King Sejong.
Writing a Name on a Class Form
A new student is filling in a name card. The teacher asks for the name in Hangul and helps with the spelling.
Teacher
이름을 한글로 써 주세요.
Ireumeul hangeullo sseo juseyo.
Please write your name in Hangul.
Student
제 이름도 한글로 쓸 수 있어요?
Je ireumdo hangeullo sseul su isseoyo?
Can I write my name in Hangul too?
Teacher
네. 같이 써 봐요.
Ne. Gachi sseo bwayo.
Yes. Let’s try writing it together.
Student
감사합니다. 이제 한글로 쓸 수 있어요.
Gamsahamnida. Ije hangeullo sseul su isseoyo.
Thank you. Now I can write it in Hangul.
한글로 means “in Hangul”. After a noun ending in ㄹ, the particle is 로, giving 한글로. The two ㄹ sounds meet, so the romanization is hangeullo. Here the teacher is asking for a writing system. A foreign name can be written in Hangul without becoming a Korean word or changing the person’s nationality.
Where Will You See 한글?
On a form, 한글 can identify the field for a name written in Korean letters. 영문 identifies a field using the Roman alphabet. Follow the form’s instructions about names and spelling; the label 한글 tells you which script to use, rather than asking you to translate the meaning of your name.
In beginner workbooks, 한글 appears beside letter charts and handwriting exercises. 한글 자음 means Hangul consonants, while 한글 모음 means Hangul vowels. These are labels for parts of the writing system. A lesson about introductions or ordering food belongs to the wider study of 한국어.
In a computer conversation, 한글 may also refer to the word-processing program of that name. A discussion about opening a document can therefore concern software. A discussion about learning letters concerns the script. The surrounding task usually makes the intended meaning clear.
Reading, Writing and Combining Letters
한글을 읽다 means to read Hangul; 한글을 쓰다 means to write it. These are literal combinations, useful for describing separate skills. You may recognize a printed word before you can write it neatly by hand. 한글을 배우다 covers learning the script more broadly, including how the letters fit together.
Hangul letters form syllable blocks. In 한, ㅎ, ㅏ and ㄴ occupy one block; 글 is another block. This is why the word 한글 has two syllable blocks even though each block contains several letters. Learning to count blocks and recognize their parts makes dictionary explanations about syllables easier to follow.
The phrase 한글 자음 focuses on consonants, so it does not include vowels. 자음 and 모음 are a useful pair when a teacher asks which part of a block you find difficult. 받침 names a consonant at the bottom of a syllable block, rather than a separate alphabet.
Words for Talking about the Script
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 자음 | consonant | Includes letters such as ㄱ and ㄴ. |
| 모음 | vowel | Includes letters such as ㅏ and ㅗ. |
| 받침 | final consonant | Refers to the bottom consonant position in a block. |
| 글씨 | handwriting / lettering | Useful when discussing how writing looks. |
Use the classroom vocabulary lesson for the instructions and objects you meet while learning to read and write.
Hangul and Hangeul in English
Hangul and Hangeul are two English spellings of 한글. Hangeul follows Revised Romanization, in which eu represents ㅡ. Seeing Hangul in a book title does not identify a different alphabet. In Korean, the spelling remains 한글. When searching for beginner materials, recognizing both English spellings helps you find resources about the same writing system.
Quick Self-Test
- On a name form, what does 한글로 ask you to use?
- Which word means vowel: 자음 or 모음?
- How many syllable blocks are in 한글?
Show answers
- Hangul, the Korean writing system.
- 모음. 자음 means consonant.
- Two: 한 and 글. Each contains several letters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say Korean alphabet in Korean?
Say 한글 (hangeul).
Is 한글 the Korean language?
No. The language is 한국어, and 한글 is the writing system.
When is Hangeul Day?
한글날 is on October 9 and is a public holiday in South Korea.
How do you say "learn Hangeul"?
Say 한글을 배우다.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Korean classroom vocabulary groups 한글 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Compare with Korean, the language.
- Next in the list: meaning.
- Related theme: classroom words.