ㄱ

Stroke order

See also ר, ㄲ, ㅋ, and ד

Korean

Etymology

Gari Ledyard proposes that ㄱ g is a graphic simplification of the Phagspa letter ꡂ g, ultimately from Tibetan ག g. The traditional account* holds that its its form is the outline of the back of the tongue blocking the throat (presumably in profile), 舌根閉喉之形, and Ledyard feels this consideration may have determined the form of simplified ག.

* Hunmin Jeongeum Haerye "Explanations and Examples of the Proper Sounds for the Instruction of the People" (1446), defining and explaining the script now known as 한글 (Hangeul, “Great script, Korean script”) in South Korea and 조선글 (joseon'geul, “Korean script”) in North Korea.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /k/, [k], [ɡ], [k͈], [ŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: ㄱ, ㅇ

Romanization

Revised	g, k, ng	transliteration	g
McCune–Reischauer	k, g, ng	Yale	k

• Audio

  (file)

Letter

ㄱ (g)

1. 기역 (giyeok), the first jamo (letter) of hangeul, the Korean writing system; the Korean morpheme for the unaspirated velar plosive /g/ and the letter "g".

Usage notes

Romanizing and pronouncing ㄱ (g) varies based on context:

• 고구마 (goguma, “sweet potato”)
• 가 (ga, “edge”)
• 견 (gyeon, “silk”)
• 객 (gaek, “guest”)
• 독 (dok, “jar”)

See also

• Next jamo: (North Korea) ㄴ (n), (South Korea) ㄲ (kk)
• Other velar consonants in Hangeul: ㅋ (k)
• Other basic plosives in Hangeul: ㄷ (d), ㅂ (b)
• Appendix:Korean script