Omar, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 오 | ㅇ + ㅗ | ㅇ silent at the start ㅗ o, as in “go” (shorter) | o |
| 마 | ㅁ + ㅏ | ㅁ m ㅏ a, as in “father” | ma |
| 르 | ㄹ + ㅡ | ㄹ r (a light, flapped r) ㅡ eu, like “oo” said with spread lips | reu |
Why Omar is written this way
- Korean has one letter, ㄹ, for both “r” and “l”. At the start of a syllable it is a light, flapped sound between the two; at the end of a block it sounds like “l”.
- Korean syllables can’t end in most consonant sounds, and two consonants can’t start one, so a soft ㅡ (eu) is added: 르. Say it lightly — it is barely heard.
- Say each block evenly. Korean doesn’t stress one syllable over the others the way English does, so Omar sounds like o-ma-reu.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 오마르 ends in a vowel, so you say 제 이름은 오마르예요 (je ireumeun omareuyeyo). With friends, Koreans add 야 (ya) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 오마르 씨 or 오마르 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.