Zachary, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 재 | ㅈ + ㅐ | ㅈ j ㅐ ae, like the a in “cat” | jae |
| 커 | ㅋ + ㅓ | ㅋ k ㅓ eo, like the u in “up” | keo |
| 리 | ㄹ + ㅣ | ㄹ r (a light, flapped r) ㅣ i, as in “see” | ri |
Why Zachary 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 has no “z” sound, so ㅈ (j) is used: 재.
- The short “a” of “cat” is written ㅐ (ae): 재.
- The relaxed “uh” sound — like the u in “fun” or the -er in “Peter” — is written ㅓ (eo): 커.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 재커리 ends in a vowel, so you say 제 이름은 재커리예요 (je ireumeun jaekeoriyeyo). With friends, Koreans add 야 (ya) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 재커리 씨 or 재커리 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.