Korean · Difficult words
How to pronounce 얼음 in Korean
얼음
Romanization: eoreum
Ice
Standard South Korean; reference: SK-Standard, Seoul · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
얼음 is pronounced [ʌ̹ɾɯm] in Korean. In 얼음: 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 얼음
The reference transcription for 얼음 is [ʌ̹ɾɯm]. 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 얼음: 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.The eu vowel
In 얼음: Keep the tongue high and toward the back or center, with the lips unrounded. Listen for a vowel distinct from rounded /u/.
Watch out: English “oo” rounds the lips; that changes this vowel.
3.The Korean flap /ɾ/
In 얼음: Make a quick tongue-tip contact between the surrounding sounds. Its realization depends on position.
Watch out: Do not impose an English r on every ㄹ; final and doubled positions can be l-like.
Hear it in context
물에 얼음을 넣어요.
mure eoreumeul neoeoyo.
I put ice in the water.
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
얼음 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 얼음
How do you pronounce 얼음?
얼음 is pronounced [ʌ̹ɾɯm] in Korean. In 얼음: 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 얼음: 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.
