Kenneth, 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 |
| 네 | ㄴ + ㅔ | ㄴ n ㅔ e, as in “bed” | ne |
| 스 | ㅅ + ㅡ | ㅅ s ㅡ eu, like “oo” said with spread lips | seu |
Why Kenneth 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: 스. Say it lightly — it is barely heard.
- Korean has no “th” sound. It is usually written ㅅ (s), or ㅌ (t) / ㄷ (d) when that is closer to how the name is said.
- Say each block evenly. Korean doesn’t stress one syllable over the others the way English does, so Kenneth sounds like ke-ne-seu.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 케네스 ends in a vowel, so you say 제 이름은 케네스예요 (je ireumeun keneseuyeyo). With friends, Koreans add 야 (ya) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 케네스 씨 or 케네스 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.