Vincent, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 빈 | ㅂ + ㅣ + ㄴ | ㅂ b ㅣ i, as in “see” ㄴ n at the end | bin |
| 센 | ㅅ + ㅔ + ㄴ | ㅅ s ㅔ e, as in “bed” ㄴ n at the end | sen |
| 트 | ㅌ + ㅡ | ㅌ t ㅡ eu, like “oo” said with spread lips | teu |
Why Vincent is written this way
- Korean syllables can’t end in most consonant sounds, and two consonants can’t start one, so a soft ㅡ (eu) is added: 트. Say it lightly — it is barely heard.
- Korean has no “v” sound, so ㅂ (b) is used: 빈.
- Say each block evenly. Korean doesn’t stress one syllable over the others the way English does, so Vincent sounds like bin-sen-teu.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 빈센트 ends in a vowel, so you say 제 이름은 빈센트예요 (je ireumeun binsenteuyeyo). With friends, Koreans add 야 (ya) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 빈센트 씨 or 빈센트 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.