Hangul

[hahng-gool]

noun

1. the Korean alphabetic writing system, introduced in the 15th century, containing 14 consonants and 11 vowels.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Hangul¹

< Korean, equivalent to han great (but frequently taken to be Han < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese hán Korea) + kŭl writing

Example Sentences

Northern Virginia, and Annandale in particular, is home to a robust Korean community, where signage displays Hangul lettering and where Korean restaurants, churches, grocery stores, bakeries and beauty stores abound.

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Using the Korean hangul alphabet, she repeatedly writes a single word, such as “love,” “mother” or “human,” and then shreds and arranges the text.

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The Korean course also uses romanizations in some of its games, rather than Hangul, while pretty much any other Korean resource gets you away from romanizations as quickly as possible.

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It’s been mostly teaching me to read basic Hangul, one letter at a time, for months now — most Korean learners I know needed at most a couple days to get Hangul down.

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When I learned how to read Hangul, the Korean alphabet, and could understand signs and ingredients, my heart sang.

Read more on New York Times