Frank, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 프 | ㅍ + ㅡ | ㅍ p ㅡ eu, like “oo” said with spread lips | peu |
| 랭 | ㄹ + ㅐ + ㅇ | ㄹ r (a light, flapped r) ㅐ ae, like the a in “cat” ㅇ ng, as in “sing” at the end | raeng |
| 크 | ㅋ + ㅡ | ㅋ k ㅡ eu, like “oo” said with spread lips | keu |
Why Frank 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: 프, 크. Say it lightly — it is barely heard.
- Korean has no “f” sound, so it becomes a “p” sound — ㅍ, or ㅂ at the bottom of a block.
- The short “a” of “cat” is written ㅐ (ae): 랭.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 프랭크 ends in a vowel, so you say 제 이름은 프랭크예요 (je ireumeun peuraengkeuyeyo). With friends, Koreans add 야 (ya) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 프랭크 씨 or 프랭크 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.