Bruce, 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 |
| 루 | ㄹ + ㅜ | ㄹ r (a light, flapped r) ㅜ u, as in “moon” | ru |
| 스 | ㅅ + ㅡ | ㅅ s ㅡ eu, like “oo” said with spread lips | seu |
Why Bruce 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, 스. Say it lightly — it is barely heard.
- Say each block evenly. Korean doesn’t stress one syllable over the others the way English does, so Bruce sounds like beu-ru-seu.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 브루스 ends in a vowel, so you say 제 이름은 브루스예요 (je ireumeun beuruseuyeyo). With friends, Koreans add 야 (ya) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 브루스 씨 or 브루스 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.