Ezra, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 에 | ㅇ + ㅔ | ㅇ silent at the start ㅔ e, as in “bed” | e |
| 즈 | ㅈ + ㅡ | ㅈ j ㅡ eu, like “oo” said with spread lips | jeu |
| 라 | ㄹ + ㅏ | ㄹ r (a light, flapped r) ㅏ a, as in “father” | ra |
Why Ezra 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: 즈. Say it lightly — it is barely heard.
- Korean has no “z” sound, so ㅈ (j) is used: 즈.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 에즈라 ends in a vowel, so you say 제 이름은 에즈라예요 (je ireumeun ejeurayeyo). With friends, Koreans add 야 (ya) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 에즈라 씨 or 에즈라 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.