Your first language

The American accent for Korean speakers

Your English is already good. If Korean is your first language, these are the American patterns worth your time first, and why.

Start with these patterns

You may add a small vowel after a last sound, work can sound like walk, and card can lose its R.

A consonant joins the next word
consonant + next vowel → joins
The last consonant starts the next word: “pick up” becomes “pi-kup”.
If you speak Korean, don’t add a small “eu” after the last sound. Let that sound start the next word.
Vowel and R become “er”
ER · IR · UR + no vowel → erW + OR → erER · OR · AR in a quick part → er
Work, bird and turn all have “er”, and so does a quick part: doctor, sugar.
If you speak Korean, work and walk are both 워크. Keep the R in work, so it sounds like “werk”.
Every R is said
vowel + R → said
Even at the end of a word, you hear the vowel, then the R.
If you speak Korean, 카드 and 도어 have no R. In English, say it: card, door.

Korean has one letter for L and R and makes each part equally strong, and these pairs can sound alike: fan and pan, very and berry.

Light or right?
L tip touchesR touches nothing
For L, the tip of your tongue touches just behind your top teeth.
If you speak Korean, ㄹ is one letter for L and R. For R, pull your tongue back and touch nothing: right, rock.
Two-part words start strong
two parts → strong-quick
This is true about 3 times in 4, so when you’re not sure, start strong.
Fan or pan?
F teeth on lip, blowP both lips, stop
For F, rest your top teeth on your lower lip. If both lips close, fan sounds like pan.
If you speak Korean, F may become ㅍ, as in 커피 for coffee. Put your top teeth on your lower lip and blow.
Very or berry?
V teeth on lipB both lipsW round lips
If both lips close, very sounds like berry. If they round, vine sounds like wine.
If you speak Korean, V is not a B. Put your top teeth on your lower lip, with your voice: very, vote.

Korean gives you a head start on: T becomes a quick D, T stops, with no air.