Caleb, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 케 | ㅋ + ㅔ | ㅋ k ㅔ e, as in “bed” | ke |
| 일 | ㅇ + ㅣ + ㄹ | ㅇ silent at the start ㅣ i, as in “see” ㄹ l at the end | il |
| 럽 | ㄹ + ㅓ + ㅂ | ㄹ l (after another ㄹ) ㅓ eo, like the u in “up” ㅂ p (unreleased) at the end | reop |
Why Caleb is written this way
- Between vowels, the “l” sound is written with two ㄹ — 일럽 — so it stays a clear “l”. A single ㄹ there would sound more like a soft “r”.
- The “ay” sound of “day” is written as two vowels, 에 + 이: 케일.
- The relaxed “uh” sound — like the u in “fun” or the -er in “Peter” — is written ㅓ (eo): 럽.
- Caleb ends in a consonant, so it sits at the bottom of the last block as a final consonant (받침): 럽 has ㅂ at the bottom.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 케일럽 ends in a consonant (ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄹ…) at the bottom of the last block, so you say 제 이름은 케일럽이에요 (je ireumeun keilleobieyo). With friends, Koreans add 아 (a) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 케일럽 씨 or 케일럽 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.