Learn Hardcore Korean: bomkkocheun yeppeoyo.

은 is the topic marker (은/는). It tells us that 봄꽃 (“spring flowers”) is the topic of the sentence—what we’re talking about. It doesn’t necessarily emphasize that it’s the grammatical subject; rather, it frames “spring flowers” as the known or general theme.

What’s the difference between using 은/는 and 이/가 here?

은/는 marks the topic and often introduces general statements or contrasts.
이/가 marks the subject and tends to present new information or emphasize the actor/thing itself.
So 봄꽃은 예뻐요 sounds like “As for spring flowers, they’re pretty,” a general observation. 봄꽃이 예뻐요 would read more like “Spring flowers (in particular) are pretty,” focusing on identifying them as pretty.

Could I say 봄꽃이 예뻐요 instead? How would that change the nuance?

Yes, it’s grammatically correct. Using 이 instead of 은 shifts the nuance: it feels like you’re pointing out or introducing spring flowers as pretty, rather than making a broad statement. It’s more “Those spring flowers are pretty!” than “Spring flowers (in general) are pretty.”

How is 봄꽃은 pronounced? There are a lot of consonants in a row!

Phonetically you’ll hear it as [봄꼳슨] (bom-kkot-seun). Breakdown:

봄 ends in [m].