Korean · Difficult words
How to pronounce 어제 in Korean
어제
Romanization: eoje
Yesterday
Standard South Korean; reference: SK-Standard, Seoul · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
어제 is pronounced [ʌ̹d͡ʑe̞] in Korean. In 어제: Use a single open back-to-central vowel. The spelling “eo” in romanization represents one vowel. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in 어제
The reference transcription for 어제 is [ʌ̹d͡ʑe̞]. Read adjacent consonants together without inserting extra vowels. Korean pronunciation changes when sounds meet. Follow the spoken transcription and connected example rather than reading each Hangul letter in isolation.
1.The eo vowel /ʌ/
In 어제: Use a single open back-to-central vowel. The spelling “eo” in romanization represents one vowel.
Watch out: Do not read eo as an e followed by o.
2.A steady /e/ vowel
In 어제: Keep the tongue toward the front and sustain a single /e/ vowel. Listen for its exact height in the recording.
Watch out: English “ay” often ends with a glide; do not automatically carry that glide into this vowel.
Hear it in context
어제 친구를 만났어요.
eoje chingureul mannasseoyo.
I met a friend yesterday.
Listen once, say it aloud, then replay at 1.00×. Keep the word connected to the surrounding sentence rather than giving every syllable equal weight.
Pronunciation and variety
어제 is presented in standard South Korean pronunciation. Everyday speech can vary in vowel quality and consonant realization. Treat the romanization as a reading aid and follow the Hangul, IPA, and recording together.
The English-style respelling is approximate. Use the IPA and recording together for vowel quality and consonants that do not have an exact English equivalent.
Meaning and everyday use
Questions about 어제
How do you pronounce 어제?
어제 is pronounced [ʌ̹d͡ʑe̞] in Korean. In 어제: Use a single open back-to-central vowel. The spelling “eo” in romanization represents one vowel. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In 어제: Use a single open back-to-central vowel. The spelling “eo” in romanization represents one vowel. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
