Korean · Difficult words
How to pronounce 어깨 in Korean
어깨
Romanization: eokkae
Shoulder
Standard South Korean; reference: SK-Standard, Seoul · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
어깨 is pronounced [ʌ̹k͈ɛ] in Korean. In 어깨: Make the consonant with firmer articulation and very little escaping air. The doubled vertical mark /͈/ indicates tension. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in 어깨
The reference transcription for 어깨 is [ʌ̹k͈ɛ]. 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.Tense consonants
In 어깨: Make the consonant with firmer articulation and very little escaping air. The doubled vertical mark /͈/ indicates tension.
Watch out: Louder speech alone does not create a tense consonant. Keep it distinct from an aspirated consonant.
2.The eo vowel /ʌ/
In 어깨: 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.
3.The open /ɛ/ vowel
In 어깨: Keep the vowel open, like the vowel in many pronunciations of English “bed”, without a final glide.
Watch out: Avoid turning this vowel into English “ay”.
Hear it in context
어깨가 아파요.
eokkaega apayo.
My shoulder hurts.
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
어깨 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 어깨
How do you pronounce 어깨?
어깨 is pronounced [ʌ̹k͈ɛ] in Korean. In 어깨: Make the consonant with firmer articulation and very little escaping air. The doubled vertical mark /͈/ indicates tension. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In 어깨: Make the consonant with firmer articulation and very little escaping air. The doubled vertical mark /͈/ indicates tension. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
