Best Way To Learn Korean: A Guide For Beginners

So you've fallen in love with Korean dramas, can't stop humming your favorite K-pop tunes, or maybe you've made Korean friends and want to connect more deeply. Whatever your reason, you're ready to learn Korean—and I'm here to help you do it without the headaches.

This guide cuts through the complexity and gives you practical, proven strategies that actually work, whether you're a complete beginner or looking to level up your skills.

Why Korean Is Easier Than You Think

Forget what you've heard about Korean being impossibly hard. Here's why it's more accessible than most people realize:

The Alphabet Is a 2-Hour Win

Hangul, the Korean alphabet, was literally designed to be learned quickly. With just 24 letters (14 consonants and 10 vowels), you can learn the basics in a single afternoon. The letters even visually represent the shape your mouth makes when pronouncing them—how's that for user-friendly?

Pronunciation Is Consistent

Unlike English (think "though," "through," and "tough"), Korean letters are pronounced the same way every time. Once you know the rules, you can read anything correctly, even if you don't understand the meaning yet.

No Grammatical Gender

No memorizing whether a table is masculine or feminine like in French or Spanish. Korean nouns don't have gender, which removes a huge learning obstacle.

Shared Vocabulary

Korean has borrowed many English words. These "Konglish" terms give you an instant vocabulary boost—words like 컴퓨터 (keompyuteo/computer) and 아이스크림 (aiseukeurim/ice cream) are recognizable even to beginners.

5 Steps to Korean Success (That Actually Work)

Step 1: Master Hangul in One Weekend

If you ask us what the best way to learn Korean is, then that would be to start with Hangul. “Hangul” is the Korean writing system, and is also known as one of the easiest alphabets in the world.

Weekend Plan:

• Saturday Morning: Learn the basic consonants and vowels
• Saturday Afternoon: Practice forming syllable blocks
• Sunday: Read simple words and practice writing your name

Pro Tip: Use visual associations to remember letters. For example, the consonant ㄱ (g/k) looks like a gun's right angle, and ㅁ (m) resembles a square mouth making the "m" sound.

Although using romanisation might seem easier at first, it can hinder your ability to get the correct pronunciation and develop your writing skills. A new writing system may sound intimidating initially, but the Korean alphabet is phonetic, meaning the sounds match the letters in almost all cases. This makes reading and writing in Korean potentially easier than learning Portuguese or English, where pronunciation can vary depending on the word.

Step 2: Build a Useful Vocabulary Foundation

Focus on words you'll actually use, not random vocabulary lists. As a beginner, you may start with these high-value categories:

• Everyday Greetings: 안녕하세요 (annyeong haseyo/hello), 감사합니다 (kamsahamnida/thank you)
• Question Words: 무엇 (mueot/what), 어디 (eodi/where), 언제 (eonje/when)
• Numbers: Learn both native Korean and Sino-Korean counting systems
• Food Terms: Essential for ordering meals and grocery shopping
• Direction Words: For navigating and asking for help

To ensure you're starting with the basics, try labelling objects around your home with Korean words. If you can label them easily, you're learning the words you are most likely to use. Additionally, these visual reminders create passive learning opportunities throughout your day.

Step 3: Learn Practical Phrases, Not Grammar Rules

Instead of memorizing complex grammar rules, focus on useful phrases you can adapt.

• "I want ___" → "___을/를 원해요" (___eul/reul wonhaeyo)
• "Where is ___?" → "___이/가 어디에 있어요?" (___i/ga eodie isseoyo?)
• "I like ___" → "___을/를 좋아해요" (___eul/reul joahaeyo)
• "How do you say ___ in Korean?" → "___은/는 한국어로 어떻게 말해요?" (___eun/neun hangugeo-ro eotteohge malhaeyo?)

For each phrase, create 5-10 variations by swapping out different words. This builds pattern recognition faster than studying abstract rules.

Step 4: Create an Immersion Environment at Home

You don't need to move to Korea to surround yourself with the language. Instead, you can use multiple resources to train your ears to the language.

• Morning: Listen to a Korean podcast during breakfast
• Commute: Use audio lessons or K-pop for pronunciation practice
• Lunch Break: Watch a 5-minute Korean TV show at Lingopie
• Evening: Watch K-dramas with Korean and English subtitles
• Before Bed: Review flashcards or read simple Korean texts

Step 5: Practice Speaking from Day One

Don't wait until you feel "ready" to start speaking Korean. Instead, try these speaking practice exercises:

• Solo Practice: Record yourself saying basic phrases and compare with native audio
• Language Partners: Find Korean speakers on language exchange apps like HelloTalk or Tandem
• AI Conversation Practice: Use AI language partners for low-pressure speaking practice
• Shadowing Technique: Repeat Korean audio with the same timing and intonation as native speakers

Don't Forget To Learn Korean Grammar

While the first 5 steps are good enough, remember that you cannot really run away from the language's grammar. Thankfully, Korean sentence structure is not too complex and its grammar seems more coherent and simple than English. Korean sentences are generally subject-object-verb. Our English sentences generally use subject-verb-object order.

Let's look at the English phrase I drink the water.

• I (subject) - drink (verb) - the water (object)

Now let's look at the Korean edition of it.

• 나는 물을 마신다

나는 (I - subject) 물을 (water - object) 마신다 (drink - verb)

If you're unsure of where to start in Korean grammar, then we highly recommend starting with the basic Korean verbs. Once you know some of these, you can easily create basic sentences.

• 이다: to be
• 사다: to buy
• 오다: to come
• 마시다: to drink
• 먹다: to eat
• 가다: to go
• 주다: to give
• 갖다: to have
• 배우다: to learn
• 좋아하다: to like
• 사랑하다: to love
• 보다: to see/watch
• 가르치다: to teach
• 원하다: to want

To learn more we recommend our post dedicated about Korean verbs for beginners. It is also important to know that the conjugation will change slightly depending on what the last vowel of the verb is.

Present Tense

Formal tense: (verb + 습니다 - when the verb ends in a consonant)

• (verb + ㅂ니다 - when the verb ends in a vowel)

Polite tense: (verb + 아요 - when the last vowel of a verb ㅏor ㅗ)

• (verb + 어요 - when the last vowel of a verb is not ㅏor ㅗ)

Casual tense (verb + 아 - when the last vowel of a verb ㅏor ㅗ)

• (verb + 어요 - when the last vowel of a verb is not ㅏor ㅗ)

Past Tense

Formal tense: (verb + 았습니다 - when the last vowel of a verb ㅏor ㅗ)

• (verb + 었습니다 - when the last vowel of a verb is not ㅏor ㅗ)

Polite tense: (verb + 았어요 - when the last vowel of a verb ㅏor ㅗ)

• (verb + 었어요 - when the last vowel of a verb is not ㅏor ㅗ)

Casual tense (verb + 았어 - when the last vowel of a verb ㅏor ㅗ)

• (verb + 었어 - when the last vowel of a verb is not ㅏor ㅗ)

Present Continuous / Progressive Tense

The English Progressive tense uses am/is/are ____-ing

For example, I am jumping.

• Formal tense: (verb + 고 있습니다)
• Polite tense: (verb + 고 있어요)
• Casual tense: (verb + 고 있어)

Future Tense

As with many languages, the future tense gets a bit tricky in Korean. There are five Korean future tenses depending on how probable the event will happen.

We have a similar thing in English. For example, I must go. I will go, I shall go, I may go, I can go.

In English, instead of conjugating the word we use these modal verbs; 'can', 'could', 'may', 'might', 'will', 'would', 'shall', 'should', and 'must'.

In Korean grammar, you need to conjugate the verb for each kind of future tense, along with the three levels of formality.

This is a little beyond the scope of beginner Korean language learners. For now, just focus on the most commonly used future tense and be aware that the others exist for later study.

Formal tense: (verb + ㄹ - when the word ends in a vowel)

• (verb + 을 겁니다 - when the word ends in a consonant)

Polite tense: (verb + ㄹ - when the word ends in a vowel)

• (verb + 을 거예요 - when the word ends in a consonant)

Casual tense (verb + ㄹ - when the word ends in a vowel)

• (verb + 을 거야 - when the word ends in a consonant)

The Best Way to Learn Korean Is Through Lingopie

Studying Korean is not easy and it can be embarrassing for beginners to make mistakes. You need to push past these barriers.

To start, learn vocabulary that relates to your hobbies as well. In any casual conversation, you will be using these words often and you will enjoy the conversation much more.

Begin your Korean journey with Lingopie, the only streaming service that enables you to watch Korean movies with dual subtitles, learning new vocabulary at the same time!

You can sign up for a 7-day free trial now!

FAQ

Best app/website to learn Korean?

There are many great apps and websites to learn Korean, but some of the most recommended ones include Lingopie, Talk To Me In Korean, and Memrise. Lingopie stands out by offering real TV shows and K-dramas with features like double subtitles and an AI tool for grammar correction, making it an engaging way to learn the language.

How can I learn Korean by myself?

Learning Korean by yourself is entirely possible with the right resources and dedication. Start with online courses or apps like Lingopie and Duolingo to build a foundation in grammar and vocabulary. Supplement your learning with YouTube tutorials, Korean dramas, and practice speaking with language exchange partners or using language learning forums.

What's the fastest way to learn Korean?

The fastest way to learn Korean is through immersion and consistent practice. Combine structured learning through apps and courses with immersive experiences like watching Korean TV shows, listening to Korean music, and speaking with native speakers as much as possible. Setting daily goals and practicing regularly will accelerate your learning process.

How long does it usually take to learn Korean?

The time it takes to learn Korean varies depending on your language background, study methods, and dedication. Generally, reaching a conversational level can take around 6 months to a year with regular practice. Achieving fluency might take several years, but consistent effort and immersion can significantly shorten this time.

Is Korean a difficult language to learn?

Korean can be challenging for English speakers due to its unique alphabet (Hangul), grammar structure, and pronunciation. However, Hangul is a phonetic alphabet that is relatively easy to learn, and with consistent practice, many learners find that they can make steady progress. The key is to stay motivated and use a variety of learning resources.