ieung

ieung is a letter in the Korean alphabet, Hangul. It is the 21st consonant in the traditional ordering of the Hangul alphabet and is often referred to as the "final consonant" or "batchim" when it appears at the end of a syllable block. In modern Korean, ieung typically represents a velar nasal sound, similar to the "ng" sound in the English word "sing."

When ieung is used at the beginning of a syllable or as a placeholder vowel, it is silent. This silent initial position is a crucial aspect of Hangul's syllable structure, as every syllable must begin with a consonant, even if that consonant has no phonetic value. This silent ieung serves to maintain the visual and structural integrity of the syllable block.

The shape of the ieung is said to be derived from the shape of the back of the tongue or throat in a particular position. Along with the other basic consonants (giyeok, nieun, siot, and muum), it forms the foundational set of Hangul consonants. Its dual role as a silent placeholder and a voiced consonant makes it a unique and fundamental component of the Korean writing system. Understanding the function of ieung is essential for comprehending Korean pronunciation and orthography.