Korean · Everyday expressions
How to pronounce 생일 축하해요 in Korean
생일 축하해요
Romanization: saeng'il chukhahaeyo
Happy birthday!
Standard South Korean; reference: SK-Standard, Seoul · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
생일 축하해요 is pronounced [sʰɛŋiɭ t͡ɕʰukʰa̠ɦɛjo] in Korean. In 생일 축하해요: Let a clear puff of air follow the consonant marked /ʰ/. Keep the next vowel connected to it. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in 생일 축하해요
The reference transcription for 생일 축하해요 is [sʰɛŋiɭ t͡ɕʰukʰa̠ɦɛjo]. 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.Aspirated consonants
In 생일 축하해요: Let a clear puff of air follow the consonant marked /ʰ/. Keep the next vowel connected to it.
Watch out: Do not confuse the breathy release with the tight, low-airflow tense consonants.
2.A steady /o/ vowel
In 생일 축하해요: Round the lips and keep the tongue toward the back for a steady /o/. Follow the length indicated in the transcription.
Watch out: Avoid automatically turning a single /o/ into the moving vowel of English “go”.
3.The open /ɛ/ vowel
In 생일 축하해요: 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
생일 축하해요. 좋은 하루 보내세요.
saengil chukahaeyo. joeun haru bonaeseyo.
Happy birthday. Have a good day.
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
생일 축하해요 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 생일 축하해요
How do you pronounce 생일 축하해요?
생일 축하해요 is pronounced [sʰɛŋiɭ t͡ɕʰukʰa̠ɦɛjo] in Korean. In 생일 축하해요: Let a clear puff of air follow the consonant marked /ʰ/. Keep the next vowel connected to it. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In 생일 축하해요: Let a clear puff of air follow the consonant marked /ʰ/. Keep the next vowel connected to it. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
