Jeff, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 제 | ㅈ + ㅔ | ㅈ j ㅔ e, as in “bed” | je |
| 프 | ㅍ + ㅡ | ㅍ p ㅡ eu, like “oo” said with spread lips | peu |
Why Jeff is written this way
- Korean syllables can’t end in most consonant sounds, and two consonants can’t start one, so a soft ㅡ (eu) is added: 프. Say it lightly — it is barely heard.
- Korean has no “f” sound, so it becomes a “p” sound — ㅍ, or ㅂ at the bottom of a block.
- Say each block evenly. Korean doesn’t stress one syllable over the others the way English does, so Jeff sounds like je-peu.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 제프 ends in a vowel, so you say 제 이름은 제프예요 (je ireumeun jepeuyeyo). With friends, Koreans add 야 (ya) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 제프 씨 or 제프 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.