Victor, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 빅 | ㅂ + ㅣ + ㄱ | ㅂ b ㅣ i, as in “see” ㄱ k (unreleased) at the end | bik |
| 터 | ㅌ + ㅓ | ㅌ t ㅓ eo, like the u in “up” | teo |
Why Victor is written this way
- The “r” in Victor is not written. In Korean spelling, an “r” after a vowel is silent — much like in British English.
- Korean has no “v” sound, so ㅂ (b) is used: 빅.
- The relaxed “uh” sound — like the u in “fun” or the -er in “Peter” — is written ㅓ (eo): 터.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 빅터 ends in a vowel, so you say 제 이름은 빅터예요 (je ireumeun bikteoyeyo). With friends, Koreans add 야 (ya) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 빅터 씨 or 빅터 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.