Elliot, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 엘 | ㅇ + ㅔ + ㄹ | ㅇ silent at the start ㅔ e, as in “bed” ㄹ l at the end | el |
| 리 | ㄹ + ㅣ | ㄹ l (after another ㄹ) ㅣ i, as in “see” | ri |
| 엇 | ㅇ + ㅓ + ㅅ | ㅇ silent at the start ㅓ eo, like the u in “up” ㅅ t (unreleased) at the end | eot |
Why Elliot is written this way
- Between vowels, the “l” sound is written with two ㄹ — 엘리 — so it stays a clear “l”. A single ㄹ there would sound more like a soft “r”.
- The relaxed “uh” sound — like the u in “fun” or the -er in “Peter” — is written ㅓ (eo): 엇.
- Elliot ends in a consonant, so it sits at the bottom of the last block as a final consonant (받침): 엇 has ㅅ at the bottom.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 엘리엇 ends in a consonant (ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄹ…) at the bottom of the last block, so you say 제 이름은 엘리엇이에요 (je ireumeun ellieosieyo). With friends, Koreans add 아 (a) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 엘리엇 씨 or 엘리엇 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.