This is the static version of 팔라배바얀 Is ㄹ an L or R sound from 수랕 이나와 (Surat Inawa) | a Filipino adaption of Sejonggeul.

팔라배바얀: Is ㄹ an L or R sound?

Created 2026타 06부 11앋 (16오 33구)
Updated 2026타 06부 12앋 (01오 45구)

Is ㄹ an L or R sound?

In standard Hangeul, L and R are treated as parts of the same letter. However, in Philippine languages, L and R change the meanings of words completely. Because Philippine languages use way more words starting with L, 수랕 이나와 (Surat Inawa) establishes position-based system to determine if ㄹ is an L or R sound.

1. L sound: Word-Initial ㄹ

When ㄹ occupies the word-initial position, it defaults to an L sound.

수랕 이나와
(Surat Inawa)		 술랕 라틴
(Sulat Latin)		 Note
라로 la·ro
러틔라토 le·tra·to
라라 La·ra
  • Not: Rara (릐아라)
  • Not: Lala (랄라)
  • Not: Rala (릐알라)
리와낙 li·wa·nag

2. L sound: Syllable-Final ㄹ

Any ㄹ placed in the syllable-final position defaults to an L sound.

수랕 이나와
(Surat Inawa)		 술랕 라틴
(Sulat Latin)		 Note
루왈 lu·wal
파샬 pa·syal

3. L sound: Word-Medial, Syllable-Initial ㄹ

To write a syllable-initial L sound within a word, use ᄙ (double-ㄹ character), or a syllable-final ㄹ followed immediately by a syllable-initial ㄹ.

수랕 이나와
(Surat Inawa)		 술랕 라틴
(Sulat Latin)		 Note
카사린읠란 ka·sa·rin·lan
릐얼로 re·lo

4. R sound: Word-Medial, Syllable-Initial ㄹ

If a single ㄹ in a syllable-initial position in the middle of a word (preceded by a vowel), it is an R sound.

수랕 이나와
(Surat Inawa)		 술랕 라틴
(Sulat Latin)		 Note
라루안 la·ru·an

5. R sound: Syllable-Initial ㄹ Follows a Consonant

If a syllable-initial ㄹ follows a consonant within the same syllable, it defaults to an R sound.

수랕 이나와
(Surat Inawa)		 술랕 라틴
(Sulat Latin)		 Note
틔라바호 tra·ba·ho
솜븨러로 som·bre·ro

6. R sound: Word-Initial or Syllable-Final ㄹ

To force an R sound where it normally would trigger an L sound, such as in the word-initial or syllable-final positions, use the marker 릐.

수랕 이나와
(Surat Inawa)		 술랕 라틴
(Sulat Latin)		 Note
릐온가 ron·da
  • Word-initial R
바릐코 bar·ko
  • Syllable-final R
루가릐 lu·gar
  • Syllable-final R

7. R sound: L meets R

If a word has an L sound right before an R sound, replace the syllable-initial ㄹ with the standalone 릐 block to keep the two sounds completely separated.

수랕 이나와
(Surat Inawa)		 술랕 라틴
(Sulat Latin)		 Note
벌릐아 Bel·ra

Summary

수랕 이나와
(Surat Inawa)		 술랕 라틴
(Sulat Latin)		 Note
라라 la·ra
  • Rule №1
라랄 la·ral
  • Rule №2
랄라 la·la
  • Rule №3
라라 la·ra
  • Rule №4
람라 lam·ra
  • Rule №5
릐아라 ra·ra
  • Rule №6
라라릐 la·rar
  • Rule №6
랄릐아 lal·ra
  • Rule №7
어릘린다 Er·lin·da
  • Rules №6 + №3
  1. L sound: Word-Initial ㄹ: A single starting ㄹ is always an L sound.
  2. L sound: Syllable-Final ㄹ: Any ㄹ placed in the syllable-final position defaults to an L sound.
  3. L sound: Word-Medial, Syllable-Initial ㄹ: The ᄙ (double-ㄹ) character or a ㄹㄹ spanning two blocks is alwyas an L sound.
  4. R sound: Word-Medial, Syllable-Initial ㄹ: An ㄹ that is in a syllable-initial position in the middle of a word (preceded by a vowel) is an R sound.
  5. R sound: Syllable-Initial ㄹ Follows a Consonant: A syllable-initial ㄹ immediately following a consonant within the same syllable, it defaults to an R sound.
  6. R sound: Word-Initial or Syllable-Final ㄹ: Always use 릐 at the word-initial or syllable-final positions.
  7. R sound: L meets R: Use the standalone 릐 character immediately following a syllable-initial ㄹ to keep the two sounds completely separated.