How to start learning Korean when you don’t know where to begin

Start with Hangul, the Korean writing system. Learn how consonants and vowels fit into syllable blocks, then read a simple greeting and introduce yourself. Add a few useful words and numbers next. You do not need to memorize everything at once; a small routine is a practical place to begin.

Practise with the free seven-day starter guide

A practical order for your first steps

Learn Hangul letters and syllable blocks

Begin with a few basic consonants and vowels. Korean letters are arranged into syllable blocks: ㄱ + ㅏ makes 가. Practise spotting the parts and reading a few simple blocks. You can learn final consonants and other spelling patterns as they appear in words; you do not need every rule before you continue.

ㄱ + ㅏ → 가

consonant + vowel → syllable block

Try this: read 가, 나 and 다, then point out the consonant and vowel in each block.

Learn one greeting and say your name

Once a few letters look familiar, move to a polite everyday greeting and a short introduction. Learn each as a useful phrase, rather than building a long sentence from grammar rules. The ending in “I’m [name]” changes with the final sound of the name, so start by reading and adapting a model.

안녕하세요. 저는 안나예요.

Hello. I’m Anna.

Try this: read the greeting, then replace Anna with your own name.

Add useful everyday words and numbers

Choose a handful of words connected to your day, such as food, places or things you want to ask for. Learn numbers in a situation too: 하나 and 둘 are a simple start for counting items. Korean uses different number forms in different contexts, so you can learn each set when you need it instead of memorizing long lists first.

물 · 커피 · 하나 · 둘

water · coffee · one · two

Try this: choose five words you expect to use and practise counting one or two familiar items.

Repeat a small daily routine

Keep practice short enough to repeat: review a few letters, read one greeting and revisit one useful word. Write down one thing you want to check next time. Adjust the routine to your schedule and experience.

Try this: stop after one small review if that is all the time you have today.

Explore the Hangul cards on the home page

The cards introduce a few letters and sounds; audio availability depends on your device.

A small routine you can repeat

A 10-minute option: review three letter blocks, read one greeting aloud, practise your name sentence once, and choose one word to revisit next time. If you have less time, do just one part.

Ready for a first Korean greeting?

Try the free introductory lesson with English guidance. Choose the starting point that fits what you can read today; this short lesson is a first practice step, not a complete Korean course.

Start as a complete beginner Start if you can read some Hangul

Official learning references

For more structured study, explore these beginner learning resources.

Common questions from new learners

Should I learn Hangul first?
Yes. Start by recognizing basic consonants, vowels and syllable blocks so you can read Korean words directly. Romanization can be a temporary pronunciation aid, but it is not a substitute for learning Hangul.
What should I learn after Hangul?
Try a polite greeting and a short name introduction, then add useful words and numbers tied to situations you expect to meet. You can pick up more spelling and grammar patterns as you encounter them.
Can I start if I have never studied Korean?
Yes. The free first-greeting lesson has English guidance, and you can choose the completely-new starting point or the option for learners who can already read some Hangul.
Is this guide free, and does the membership teach Korean?
This public guide is free to read, and the introductory greeting lesson is free. The current paid membership is for English conversation practice; Language Cafe does not offer Korean AI conversations or a paid Korean course.