Harper, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 하 | ㅎ + ㅏ | ㅎ h ㅏ a, as in “father” | ha |
| 퍼 | ㅍ + ㅓ | ㅍ p ㅓ eo, like the u in “up” | peo |
Why Harper is written this way
- The “r” in Harper is not written. In Korean spelling, an “r” after a vowel is silent — much like in British English.
- The relaxed “uh” sound — like the u in “fun” or the -er in “Peter” — is written ㅓ (eo): 퍼.
- Say each block evenly. Korean doesn’t stress one syllable over the others the way English does, so Harper sounds like ha-peo.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 하퍼 ends in a vowel, so you say 제 이름은 하퍼예요 (je ireumeun hapeoyeyo). With friends, Koreans add 야 (ya) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 하퍼 씨 or 하퍼 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.