How is this pronounced 별이? Byeori or Byeol i?
While listening to kpop, I noticed that the two singers pronounced 별이 differently. On the first sentence, it was pronounced as ‘byeori’ but ‘byeol i’ on the second one. How is the pronunciation of this determined?

1. 하늘에 빛나던 별이 - Haneure bitnadeon byeori
2. 너는 별 이 세상 가장 큰 별 - noneun byol i sesang gajang keun byol

Question

How is this pronounced 별이? Byeori or Byeol i?
While listening to kpop, I noticed that the two singers pronounced 별이 differently. On the first sentence, it was pronounced as ‘byeori’ but ‘byeol i’ on the second one. How is the pronunciation of this determined?

1. 하늘에 빛나던 별이 - Haneure bitnadeon byeori
2. 너는 별 이 세상 가장 큰 별 - noneun byol i sesang gajang keun byol

Answer

Within a word, if ㄹ is followed by a vowel, as in "별이," ㄹ sounds more like an R. When words end with ㄹ or are followed by a consonant, like 별 by itself or 불러 for example, ㄹ sounds more like an L.

In your first example 별이 is one word that means "star" with the subject marker. 'The star (subject) that shone/shines in the sky'

In the second example, the word 별 is followed by a second, separate word "이" that means "this." 'You're the biggest star in this world.'

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