Amber, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 앰 | ㅇ + ㅐ + ㅁ | ㅇ silent at the start ㅐ ae, like the a in “cat” ㅁ m at the end | aem |
| 버 | ㅂ + ㅓ | ㅂ b ㅓ eo, like the u in “up” | beo |
Why Amber is written this way
- The “r” in Amber is not written. In Korean spelling, an “r” after a vowel is silent — much like in British English.
- The short “a” of “cat” is written ㅐ (ae): 앰.
- The relaxed “uh” sound — like the u in “fun” or the -er in “Peter” — is written ㅓ (eo): 버.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 앰버 ends in a vowel, so you say 제 이름은 앰버예요 (je ireumeun aembeoyeyo). With friends, Koreans add 야 (ya) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 앰버 씨 or 앰버 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.