Gavin, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 개 | ㄱ + ㅐ | ㄱ g ㅐ ae, like the a in “cat” | gae |
| 빈 | ㅂ + ㅣ + ㄴ | ㅂ b ㅣ i, as in “see” ㄴ n at the end | bin |
Why Gavin is written this way
- Korean has no “v” sound, so ㅂ (b) is used: 빈.
- The short “a” of “cat” is written ㅐ (ae): 개.
- Gavin ends in a consonant, so it sits at the bottom of the last block as a final consonant (받침): 빈 has ㄴ at the bottom.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 개빈 ends in a consonant (ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄹ…) at the bottom of the last block, so you say 제 이름은 개빈이에요 (je ireumeun gaebinieyo). With friends, Koreans add 아 (a) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 개빈 씨 or 개빈 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.