Kevin, 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 |
| 빈 | ㅂ + ㅣ + ㄴ | ㅂ b ㅣ i, as in “see” ㄴ n at the end | bin |
Why Kevin is written this way
- Korean has no “v” sound, so ㅂ (b) is used: 빈.
- Kevin 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.
- Say each block evenly. Korean doesn’t stress one syllable over the others the way English does, so Kevin sounds like ke-bin.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 케빈 ends in a consonant (ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄹ…) at the bottom of the last block, so you say 제 이름은 케빈이에요 (je ireumeun kebinieyo). With friends, Koreans add 아 (a) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 케빈 씨 or 케빈 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.