Brandon, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 브 | ㅂ + ㅡ | ㅂ b ㅡ eu, like “oo” said with spread lips | beu |
| 랜 | ㄹ + ㅐ + ㄴ | ㄹ r (a light, flapped r) ㅐ ae, like the a in “cat” ㄴ n at the end | raen |
| 든 | ㄷ + ㅡ + ㄴ | ㄷ d ㅡ eu, like “oo” said with spread lips ㄴ n at the end | deun |
Why Brandon is written this way
- Korean has one letter, ㄹ, for both “r” and “l”. At the start of a syllable it is a light, flapped sound between the two; at the end of a block it sounds like “l”.
- Korean syllables can’t end in most consonant sounds, and two consonants can’t start one, so a soft ㅡ (eu) is added: 브. Say it lightly — it is barely heard.
- The short “a” of “cat” is written ㅐ (ae): 랜.
- Brandon ends in a consonant, so it sits at the bottom of the last block as a final consonant (받침): 든 has ㄴ at the bottom.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 브랜든 ends in a consonant (ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄹ…) at the bottom of the last block, so you say 제 이름은 브랜든이에요 (je ireumeun beuraendeunieyo). With friends, Koreans add 아 (a) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 브랜든 씨 or 브랜든 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.