Bradley, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 브 | ㅂ + ㅡ | ㅂ b ㅡ eu, like “oo” said with spread lips | beu |
| 래 | ㄹ + ㅐ | ㄹ r (a light, flapped r) ㅐ ae, like the a in “cat” | rae |
| 들 | ㄷ + ㅡ + ㄹ | ㄷ d ㅡ eu, like “oo” said with spread lips ㄹ l at the end | deul |
| 리 | ㄹ + ㅣ | ㄹ l (after another ㄹ) ㅣ i, as in “see” | ri |
Why Bradley 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: 브. Say it lightly — it is barely heard.
- The short “a” of “cat” is written ㅐ (ae): 래.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 브래들리 ends in a vowel, so you say 제 이름은 브래들리예요 (je ireumeun beuraedeulliyeyo). With friends, Koreans add 야 (ya) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 브래들리 씨 or 브래들리 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.