Asher, letter by letter
Hangul is written in blocks. Each block is one syllable, built from a consonant, a vowel and sometimes a final consonant at the bottom.
| Block | Letters | How each letter sounds | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| 애 | ㅇ + ㅐ | ㅇ silent at the start ㅐ ae, like the a in “cat” | ae |
| 셔 | ㅅ + ㅕ | ㅅ s ㅕ yeo, like “yu” in “young” | syeo |
Why Asher is written this way
- The “r” in Asher is not written. In Korean spelling, an “r” after a vowel is silent — much like in British English.
- The “sh” sound is written as ㅅ plus a “y” vowel or ㅣ: 셔.
- The short “a” of “cat” is written ㅐ (ae): 애.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 애셔 ends in a vowel, so you say 제 이름은 애셔예요 (je ireumeun aesyeoyeyo). With friends, Koreans add 야 (ya) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 애셔 씨 or 애셔 님.
Official documents such as your residence card use your name in English letters, as in your passport. The Hangul spelling is what friends, coworkers and baristas will write.