Ruth, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 루 | ㄹ + ㅜ | ㄹ r (a light, flapped r) ㅜ u, as in “moon” | ru |
| 스 | ㅅ + ㅡ | ㅅ s ㅡ eu, like “oo” said with spread lips | seu |
Why Ruth 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: 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.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 루스 ends in a vowel, so you say 제 이름은 루스예요 (je ireumeun ruseuyeyo). With friends, Koreans add 야 (ya) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 루스 씨 or 루스 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.