TeacherJoy

Do you know the difference between ㅅ and ㅆ?

“ㅅ” is a soft sound.

Air escapes gently through a narrow gap.

It’s less tense than English /s/.

In fact, English /s/ is closer to “ㅆ”, not “ㅅ.”

But most learners — and even some Koreans — get this reversed.

• 사다 (to buy) vs. 싸다 (to be cheap, to go for number 1/number 2)
• 살 (flesh) vs. 쌀 (rice)

One little sound can cause a big misunderstanding.

But don’t worry — Koreans actually love the tense sound.

Some people say “싸랑해” instead of “사랑해 (I love you)” to sound more intense or playful.

And “새 거 (brand-new thing)”?

You’ll often hear “쌔 거” to exaggerate how new it is.

In loanwords, it’s everywhere:

• 소스: [소쓰], [쏘쓰]
• 스시: [스시], [쓰시]
• 소시지: [쏘시지], [쏘세지]
• 메시지: [메시지], [메씨지], [메쎄지]

It’s full of subtle shifts — influenced by English, trends, and feeling.