Matt, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 맷 | ㅁ + ㅐ + ㅅ | ㅁ m ㅐ ae, like the a in “cat” ㅅ t (unreleased) at the end | maet |
Why Matt is written this way
- The short “a” of “cat” is written ㅐ (ae): 맷.
- Matt ends in a consonant, so it sits at the bottom of the last block as a final consonant (받침): 맷 has ㅅ at the bottom.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 맷 ends in a consonant (ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄹ…) at the bottom of the last block, so you say 제 이름은 맷이에요 (je ireumeun maesieyo). With friends, Koreans add 아 (a) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 맷 씨 or 맷 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.