Is ㄹ R or L? ㄹ은 r인가요, l인가요
Neither, exactly. ㄹ is one letter with two sounds, and which one you get depends on where it sits in the syllable. Before a vowel it is a quick tap of the tongue, written “r”. At the end of a syllable the tongue stays up, and it is written “l”.
Hear and see both 소리와 입 모양
Tap your tongue tip lightly against the gum ridge — a quick tap, not an English r. 혀끝으로 윗니 뒷잇몸을 가볍게 톡 치세요. 영어 r이 아니라 톡 치는 소리입니다.
Touch your tongue tip to the gum ridge and hold it there. 받침일 때는 혀끝을 그 자리에 댄 채로 두세요.
The picture is the same on purpose: the tongue tip goes to the same place both times. What changes is whether it leaves.
What is different 무엇이 다른가
| Before a vowel | As a final | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | r | l |
| Tongue tip | Taps the gum ridge once and comes away. | Touches the gum ridge and stays there. |
| Example | 다리 [da-ri] leg | 물 [mul] water |
So the “r” and “l” in romanized Korean are not two letters. They are one letter, ㄹ, in two positions.
Why it is hard for English speakers 왜 어려운가
- It is not the English r. For an English r the tongue tip does not touch anything. For ㄹ it touches the gum ridge behind your upper teeth.
- You may already make this tap. In American English the “t” in “water” or the “dd” in “ladder” is usually a quick tap of the tongue tip. ㄹ before a vowel is that kind of sound.
- As a final, it does not let go. In 물 the word ends with the tongue tip still touching the gum ridge.
A way to practise 연습하는 방법
- Say 아. Then say 아라: let the tongue tip tap the gum ridge once in the middle, quickly, and go straight into the next 아.
- Repeat the tap: 라 – 라 – 라. Each ㄹ is one light touch. Do not hold it and do not roll it.
- Now the final. Say 알 and stop with your tongue tip resting on the gum ridge.
- Put them side by side: 라 – 알 – 라 – 알. Tap and leave, then touch and stay.
- Record yourself and listen. It is much easier to hear the difference in a recording than while you are speaking.
ㄹ before a vowel 모음 앞의 ㄹ
ㄹ as a final 받침 ㄹ
More on this letter 글자 설명
Practice ㄹ with your own voice
Korean Alphabet & Sounds · free to start, one-time unlock, no subscription
- Record yourself and compare with the example
- Trace each letter — the app checks your strokes
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Audio: Supertonic 3 (text-to-speech) · Illustrations: Hangeul Press