Double vowels: Difference between 애, 에, 얘, 예

When I first started learning Korean characters, I got stuck at the double vowels. To be honest, it isn't easy to be learning pronunciation without a proper instructor, and I must say that my teacher overall did a great job in teaching us how to pronounce them, the right way and the convenient way.

One question I find many ask is the difference between the four lookalike characters:

애, 에, 얘, 예

So I shall try to explain the subtle differences here, as well as I can.

애

Pronounced as: ae 

...as in 'hair', without the 'h' and 'r' sounds. 

Or 'care' without the 'c' and 'r' sounds.

This is actually a combination of ㅏand ㅣ.

However, it doesn't sound exactly like its combined components.

에

Pronounced as: yae

... as in the above 애, but add a 'y' sound at the front. 

It should sound like 'yea', or like 'yep' without it's 'p'.

This is actually a combination of ㅓand ㅣ.

But like the above character, doesn't really sound like it.

얘

Pronounced as: e

... as in 'eh', or 'May' without the 'm' and the 'y' sound.

This one is a combination of ㅑand ㅣ.

예

Pronounced as: ye

... as in 'Yeh'. Add a 'y' sound to the above character.

Sounds a little like 'yay', but without the 'y' sound at the back.

This one is a combination of ㅕand ㅣ.

At times, exact pronunciation is required. However, generally, people do not focus too much on the precise and accurate pronunciation, because when one speaks fast, the 'y' sound will be naturally omitted and is barely audible.

Do take note of 애 (ae) and 얘 (eh), as the difference in pronunciation between the two are more obvious and are distinguished more easily then if there was a 'y' sound or not.

Singaporeans might find it easier to pronounce the difference between the 'ae' and the 'eh'.

얘 is pronounced like the 'Eh!' we say almost everyday! 

I'm still in the process of learning the language so... in the future I will post more of such tidbits!

See you and thanks for reading my blog! Really appreciate it!