Eliza, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 일 | ㅇ + ㅣ + ㄹ | ㅇ silent at the start ㅣ i, as in “see” ㄹ l at the end | il |
| 라 | ㄹ + ㅏ | ㄹ l (after another ㄹ) ㅏ a, as in “father” | ra |
| 이 | ㅇ + ㅣ | ㅇ silent at the start ㅣ i, as in “see” | i |
| 자 | ㅈ + ㅏ | ㅈ j ㅏ a, as in “father” | ja |
Why Eliza is written this way
- Between vowels, the “l” sound is written with two ㄹ — 일라 — so it stays a clear “l”. A single ㄹ there would sound more like a soft “r”.
- Korean has no “z” sound, so ㅈ (j) is used: 자.
- The long “i” of “Mike” or “Ryan” is written as two vowels, 아 + 이: 라이.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 일라이자 ends in a vowel, so you say 제 이름은 일라이자예요 (je ireumeun illaijayeyo). With friends, Koreans add 야 (ya) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 일라이자 씨 or 일라이자 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.