Korean · Difficult words
How to pronounce 남자 in Korean
남자
Romanization: namja
Man
Standard South Korean; reference: SK-Standard, Seoul · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
남자 is pronounced [na̠md͡ʑa̠] in Korean. In 남자: Open the jaw for the a-like vowel shown in the IPA. Keep it continuous and follow the recording’s tongue position. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in 남자
The reference transcription for 남자 is [na̠md͡ʑa̠]. 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.An open vowel
In 남자: Open the jaw for the a-like vowel shown in the IPA. Keep it continuous and follow the recording’s tongue position.
Watch out: Do not substitute the English diphthong in “day”.
Hear it in context
저분은 남자예요.
jeobuneun namjayeyo.
That person is a man.
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
남자 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 남자
How do you pronounce 남자?
남자 is pronounced [na̠md͡ʑa̠] in Korean. In 남자: Open the jaw for the a-like vowel shown in the IPA. Keep it continuous and follow the recording’s tongue position. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In 남자: Open the jaw for the a-like vowel shown in the IPA. Keep it continuous and follow the recording’s tongue position. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
