The easiest way to learn Korean is to learn Hangul, the Korean alphabet, and then read and listen to short, easy Korean about things you already like, checking the translation when you need it. Leave grammar tables and long word lists for later, because easy Korean keeps showing you the most common words and endings. Below are the first steps in order, and some easy Korean to start with.
Is Korean Easy to Learn?
Korean is easy to start, and it takes a long time to learn well. The alphabet takes a few short sessions, while the words and grammar take much longer, and the U.S. Foreign Service Institute puts Korean in its hardest group for English speakers. Our guide to the fastest way shows how long it takes.
Three things make the start easier than it looks.
- A Small AlphabetHangul has just 24 basic letters, 14 consonants and 10 vowels.
- Words You Already KnowMany Korean words come from English, such as 커피 (coffee) and 컴퓨터 (computer).
- Korean You Already HearIf you enjoy K-pop or K-dramas, you have probably heard words like 사랑 (love) and 안녕하세요 (hello).
What Is the Easiest Way to Start?
The easiest way to start is to learn the letters, then spend your time on short Korean you enjoy, one small step at a time.
- Learn Hangul FirstLearn the letters in a few short sessions with Bubblegum's free Hangul course.
- Read About What You LoveRead short dialogues about food, music, or anything else you already enjoy.
- Listen While You ReadPlay the audio as you read, so each word's sound and spelling go together.
- Hide the TranslationKeep the English hidden, and check it only when a line stops you.
- Save a Few WordsSave only the few words you want to keep from each lesson.
- Say a Line Out LoudRead a line aloud whenever it feels fun, like a greeting you want to use.
Bubblegum is a language app for reading and listening to Korean at your level, with lessons that Poppy, its AI tutor, writes about the things you like. Words you save come back inside new lessons through Regenerative Review™, so reviewing them means reading more Korean.
What Makes Korean Feel Hard, and How Can You Make It Easier?
Four parts of Korean feel hard at first, and each one gets easier when you meet it again and again in easy Korean.
| What feels hard | The easy fix |
|---|---|
| Speech levels and polite endings | Easy dialogues often end a line with the polite -요 ending, as in 좋아요 (it's good), so it feels familiar first. You meet the other speech levels later, in stories and shows. |
| Particles like 은/는 and 이/가 | Particles come up in almost every sentence, so easy reading shows you each one many times. Open a grammar note only when one confuses you. |
| The verb at the end of the sentence | Short lines like 저는 음악을 좋아해요 (I like music) put the verb last, and after many of them the order starts to feel normal. |
| Fast speech in shows | Listen to slow, clear audio made for learners first. Words you already know are much easier to catch in fast speech. |
What Is Easy Korean to Start With?
Easy Korean to start with is short and slow, and it is about something you enjoy.
| What | Why it's easy | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Lessons about food and cafes | Level 1, Bubblegum's easiest level, uses short lines with audio and a translation. | Free on this site |
| Lessons about K-pop | Simple lines about idols and the songs you like, starting at Level 1. | Free on this site |
| Dive Korean | Teachers speak slowly and use pictures, in videos made for learners. | divekorean.com |
| TTMIK Stories | Short stories are sorted by level and read by voice actors, once you know some words. | ttmikstories.app |
If a new word shows up in almost every line, switch to something easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to learn Hangul?
Learn a few letters at a time, and read real words with them as soon as you can. Bubblegum's free Hangul course works this way in your browser, with a picture to help you remember each letter and audio for every sound.
Can I learn Korean just by watching K-dramas?
Not at the start, because most of an episode goes by too fast for a beginner to learn from. Shows help more once you can follow a simple conversation, especially with Korean subtitles on. Bubblegum's lessons about K-dramas start at Level 1, so you can learn words from the shows you like before you watch.
Which Korean app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning Korean, start with Bubblegum. Poppy writes lessons at your level about things you like. For courses, tutors and speaking practice, see our comparison of Korean apps.
Is Bubblegum free?
Yes. The lesson library is free for everyone, because we believe everyone should be able to learn. It holds lessons that other learners asked Poppy for. A new custom lesson costs us real money to make, so your first one is free, and Bubblegum Pro gives you unlimited custom lessons.
The Hangul course and the Korean lessons on this site are also free and need no account.
