In this article, we’ll guide you on how to learn Korean for free, from mastering the Korean alphabet, Hangeul, to building essential vocabulary and understanding key grammar concepts. We’ll cover each level, from beginner to advanced, along with the 90 Day Korean’s free resources.
For those who want a more guided and comprehensive experience, we offer the 90 Day Korean Inner Circle course. It provides a clear, structured learning path that helps you build Korean skills step by step, ensuring steady progress and understanding. Explore our resources and start your journey today!
Quick Summary
- ✅Start by learning Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, which is essential for reading and pronunciation.
- ✅Build your skills through lessons on everything from basic sentence structure to complex grammar forms, which will help you form sentences and engage in real conversations.
- ✅Advance to higher levels where you’ll learn idiomatic expressions and honorifics, enhancing your fluency and grasp of Korean cultural nuances.
Contents
Unit 0: Learning How to Read
The first step in your Korean language journey is to master reading Hangeul, the Korean alphabet. We recommend starting by learning these building blocks: Korean syllables, Korean consonants, and Korean vowels. They will help you grasp the alphabet quickly and effectively.
- Korean Syllables explains how a Korean word is formed, helping you understand the structure of the language from the very beginning.
- Korean Consonants will break down each letter, giving you simple tips for memorizing their sounds and shapes.
- Korean Vowels will teach you the key vowel sounds, so you can start reading and pronouncing words confidently.
With these resources, you’ll be reading and recognizing Korean characters in just a few minutes, setting a solid foundation for speaking Korean and building your Korean vocabulary!
Unit 1: Basic Korean Grammar
Once you’ve mastered reading Hangeul (also romanized as Hangul), the next step is understanding Korean grammar (basic), which is essential for forming sentences and having real conversations.
- Korean Sentence Structure explains how sentences are built, helping you create your first meaningful phrases.
- Korean Pronouns introduces you to essential pronouns, helping you refer to people and things in conversations.
- Korean Verbs for Beginners will teach you how to use action words and start forming basic sentences.
- You’ll master tenses with Korean Present Tense, Korean Past Tense, and Korean Future Tense allowing you to talk about actions across different time frames.
- You’ll build the vocabulary needed to describe everyday situations with guides on Korean Phrases, Korean Words, Korean Nouns, and Korean Adjectives.
- Lastly, our lessons on Korean Numbers, Native Korean Numbers, and Sino-Korean Numbers will help you understand how to count and express quantities in both formal and casual contexts.
By mastering these basics through our structured approach, you’ll be prepared to use Korean in real conversations and confidently express yourself in various situations.
Unit 2: Lower-Intermediate Korean Grammar
After mastering the basics, it’s time to move on to more complex topics. In Unit 2, we simplify these intermediate concepts to help you gain a deeper understanding of the Korean language and communicate more effectively.
- Korean Speech Levels explains the different levels of formality used in Korean, so you’ll know how to speak appropriately depending on the situation.
- Korean Conjunctions helps you link ideas and sentences together, making your speech and writing flow more naturally.
- Korean Conjugation teaches you how to properly change verb endings, an essential skill for expressing yourself in different contexts.
- Korean Particles are small but important words used to indicate relationships between words in a sentence. We break down their usage to make them easy to understand.
- Korean Prepositions explain how to describe location, time, and direction, adding more detail to your sentences.
- Korean Adverbs will help you modify verbs and adjectives to express time, manner, and degree, allowing you to communicate more precisely.
Unit 3: Intermediate Korean Grammar
In Unit 3, we focus on helping you use intermediate grammar in real conversations. Learn more advanced concepts at your own pace, so you can confidently apply them in everyday situations.
- Can in Korean teaches you how to express ability and possibility, allowing you to say things like “I can do it” or “It’s possible” in everyday conversations. This is one of our bite-sized lessons, making it simple to grasp and practice quickly.
- Casual/Informal Speech (Korean Speech Levels) introduces you to informal Korean speech levels, so you can comfortably chat with friends, family, or people your age in more relaxed settings.
- Korean Short Story help you apply the grammar and vocabulary you’ve learned by reading simple stories in Korean. This not only improves your reading skills but also reinforces the grammar structures you’ll use in real-life conversations.
Unit 4: Upper-Intermediate Korean Grammar
In Unit 4, you will improve your language skills by introducing advanced grammar and expressions that will make you sound more like a native speaker. This level focuses on idiomatic expressions and phrases commonly used by native Korean speakers, giving you a deeper understanding of Korean and how it’s spoken in everyday life.
- Korean Idioms introduces popular sayings that go beyond literal translations. Learning these idioms helps you understand Korean conversations better and adds a natural flow to your speech that native speakers will notice.
- Korean Phrases of Mystery explores unique phrases that might seem confusing at first but are regularly used in Korean culture. Mastering these phrases will sharpen your comprehension and make you feel more confident in real-life conversations.
With 90 Day Korean’s structured lessons, you’ll be able to use these idiomatic expressions in practical situations, improving your language skills and strengthening your understanding of Korean. These advanced lessons will prepare you to communicate more naturally and effectively with native speakers.
Unit 5: Lower-Advanced Korean Grammar
In Unit 5, 90 Day Korean helps you connect language learning with Korean culture. By learning phrases and expressions tied to Korean traditions, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the language.
- Korean Cultural Phrases teach you expressions with cultural significance, making your speech more natural.
- Korean Mimetic words help you describe actions and emotions in vivid ways.
- Korean Onomatopoeia introduces sound words to describe things like animals or weather.
These lessons enhance your Korean vocabulary and make your conversations more dynamic and culturally informed.
Unit 6: Advanced Korean Grammar
Unit 6 covers important advanced grammar topics for formal and regional communication. These lessons will help you use Korean language more effectively in these contexts.
- Formal Speech (Korean Speech Levels) teaches you how to use the correct Korean speech levels in professional or respectful settings.
- Korean Honorifics helps you master respectful language, showing you how to use polite Korean words in conversations.
- Korean Dialects (Satoori) introduces regional variations, helping you understand and communicate with people from different areas of Korea.
Unit 7: Upper-Advanced Korean Grammar
In Unit 7, 90 Day Korean covers key advanced topics for formal and informal communication. These lessons will boost your ability to speak Korean naturally and confidently in any situation.
- Business Korean teaches the language needed for professional settings.
- Korean Slang helps you understand casual speech and online language, perfect for everyday conversations or watching YouTube videos.
Wrap Up
Learning a new language can be tough but we hope this guide has made learning Korean feel exciting and manageable! By taking it step by step—starting with Hangul and moving up to more advanced grammar—you’ll gain the skills and confidence to speak Korean in all kinds of situations, from casual chats to more formal interactions.
Remember, the key is to keep practicing. Try to use the language every day, whether through conversations, reading, or watching Korean YouTube videos. The more you practice, the more natural it will feel!
We’d love to hear from you! Drop your thoughts or questions in the comments below. And if you’re ready for a more guided learning experience, check out the 90 Day Korean Inner Circle course—it’s a great way to get expert help and stay on track as you work toward fluency.