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Lesson 2

Lesson 2. Long/Short Vowel Sounds: Are 눈(snow) and 눈(eye) pronounced differently?

눈(eye) and 눈(snow) are pronounced differently.

눈 [눈] eye
눈 [눈:] snow
눈이 아파요. [누니 아파요.] My eyes hurt.
눈이 오고 있어요. [누:니 오고 이써요.] It is snowing.

말(horse) and 말(word, speech) are supposed to be pronounced differently, but these are often mixed up and differentiated based on the context.

말 [말] horse
말 [말:] word, speech
말 탈 줄 알아요? [말 탈 줄 아라요?] Do you know how to ride a horse?

새(new) and 새(bird) are pronounced differently.

새 [새] new
새 [새:] bird
새집 [새집] new house
새집 [새:집] birdhouse
머리가 새집 같아요. [머리가 새:집 가타요.] You hair looks like a bird’s nest.

사과(apple) and 사과 (apology) are pronounced differently.

사과 [사과] apple
사과 [사:과] apology
사과 먹을래? [사과 머글래?] Do you want to eat an apple?

Sentence examples that contain more than one of these sounds: 

1. 이 집은 새집이에요, 새집이에요?
[이 지븐 새지비에요, 새:지비에요?]
Is this a new house or a birdhouse?

2. 눈을 보니까 눈이 아파요.
[누:늘 보니까 누니 아파요.]
Because I look at the snow, my eyes hurt.

3. 사과하면서 사과를 줄 거예요.
[사:과하면서 사과를 줄 거예요.]
I’m going to give an apple as I apologize.