Sound change rules
Some sounds need to be changed to make the pronunciation easier or even be possible. Here are the most common rules for sound changes:
Pronouncing the bottom
When Syllables end with a consonant, that cannot be pronounced as-is (ㅅ, ㅆ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅌ, ㅎ), it will be pronounced as a ㄷ sound.
Example:
맛 → 맏
밌 → 믿
Pronouncing ㄲ, ㅋ, and ㅍ
When Syllables end with ㄲ, ㅋ, or ㅍ, they need to be pronounced in their regular form.
Example:
겪 → 격
보엌 → 보억
잎 → 입
Between two syllables
When the first syllable ends with any consonant besides ㅁ, ㄴ, ㄹ, and the second syllable starts with a consonant that can be doubled (ㅂ, ㅈ, ㄷ, ㄱ, ㅅ), it will be pronounced as a double consonant.
Example:
학교 → 학꾜
받다 → 받따
백보 → 백뽀
Pronouncing ㅎ
When ㅎ comes at the end of a syllable, and the next one starts with a ㅇ, the ㅎ sound disappears.
Example:
싫어 → 시러
많아 → 마나
좋아 → 조아
When ㅎ comes next (before or after) to a regular consonant, it will be pronounced as a strong consonant.
Example:
찬하다 → 차카다
많다 → 만타
어떻게 → 어떠케
못하다 → 모타다 (몯+하다)
Pronouncing ㄹ
When ㄹ comes at the end of a syllable, and the next one starts with a consonant that can be doubled (ㅂ, ㅈ, ㄷ, ㄱ, ㅅ), it will usually be pronounced as a double consonant.
Example:
밀당 → 밀땅
일자리 → 이짜리
밀가루 → 밀까루
Exceptions include:
얼굴 → 얼굴
웰빙 → 웰빙
알바 → 알바
When a ㅂ sound comes at the end of a syllable, and the next one starts with ㄹ, the ㅂ consonant will be pronounced as ㅁ, and the ㄹ will be pronounced as ㄴ.
Example:
합량 → 함냥
압력 → 암녁
십리 → 심니
합류 → 함뉴
합리 → 함니
When ㄱ comes at the end of a syllable, and the next one starts with ㄹ, the ㄱ consonant will be pronounced as ㅇ, and the ㄹ will be pronounced as ㄴ.
Example:
백리 → 뱅니
막료 → 망뇨
복리 → 봉니
맥락 → 맹낙
식량 → 싱냥
When ㅇ or ㅁ comes at the end of a syllable, and the next one starts with ㄹ, the ㄹ will be pronounced as ㄴ.
Example:
강릉 → 강능
탐라 → 탐나
음료 → 음뇨
담력 → 담녁
황률 → 황눌
Exception:
장르 → 장르
Pronouncing ㅂ
When ㅂ, ㅃ, or ㅍ comes at the end of a syllable, and the next one starts with ㄴ or ㅁ, the ㅂ will be pronounced as ㅁ.
Example:
합니다 → 함니다
입냄새 → 임냄새
잎모양 → 임모양 (입 + 모양)
Pronouncing ㄱ
When ㄱ, ㄲ, or ㅋ comes at the end of a syllable, and the next one starts with ㄴ or ㅁ, the ㅂ will be pronounced as ㅇ.
Example:
한국말 → 한궁말
백만 → 뱅만
국물 → 궁물
The consonant ㄴ
When a ㅅ, ㅈ, ㅎ, or ㄷ sound comes at the end of a syllable, and the next one starts with ㄴ (or sometimes ㅁ), the first consonant will be pronounced as ㄴ.
Example:
몇년 → 면년
맞나 → 만나
믿는 → 민는
닿는 → 단는
있나 → 인나
잇몸 → 인몸