Timothy, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 티 | ㅌ + ㅣ | ㅌ t ㅣ i, as in “see” | ti |
| 모 | ㅁ + ㅗ | ㅁ m ㅗ o, as in “go” (shorter) | mo |
| 시 | ㅅ + ㅣ | ㅅ s ㅣ i, as in “see” | si |
Why Timothy is written this way
- 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 Timothy sounds like ti-mo-si.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 티모시 ends in a vowel, so you say 제 이름은 티모시예요 (je ireumeun timosiyeyo). With friends, Koreans add 야 (ya) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 티모시 씨 or 티모시 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.