Korean Phonology: Initial Law

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Initial Law (�?�?�법칙/頭音法則)

In Korean, Initial Law means a consonant at the beginning of the word losing/changing its sound value. For example:

1. ㄹ cannot be at the beginning. ㄹ in front of vowels �?, ㅓ, ㅗ, ㅜ, ㅡ, �?, ㅔ, ㅚ changes into ㄴ

• �?��?(樂園) -> 낙�? (paradise)
• 로�?�(�?人) -> 노�?� (elderly)
• 래�?�(來日) -> 내�?� (tomorrow)

and ㄹ followed by ㅑ, ㅒ, ㅕ, ㅛ, ㅠ, ㅣ loses its sound and becomes ㅇ.

• 량심(良心) -> 양심 (conscience)
• 류행(�?行) -> 유행 (trend)

This rule applies only to the South Korean standard language ('Standard Language'), not to North Korean standard language ('Cultural Language'). It also does not apply to foreign borrowings or Korean transliterations of foreign words.

2. ㄴ followed by ㅑ, ㅒ, ㅕ, ㅛ, ㅠ, ㅣ loses its sound and changes into ㅇ.

• 녀�?(女�?) -> 여�? (woman)
• 뉴대(�?帶) -> 유대 (comradeship, bond)

This rule applies only to the South Korean standard language ('Standard Language'), not to North Korean standard language ('Cultural Language'). It also does not apply to foreign borrowings or Korean transliterations of foreign words.

3. Two consonants cannot be at the same place. Especially in the loan words, when more than two consonants appear at the beginning of the word, the first consonant gains a vowel ㅡ and forms a separate syllable.

• �?�세노�?� (Xenophon)
• �?�리스마스 (Christmas)

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