Wayne, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 웨 | ㅇ + ㅞ | ㅇ silent at the start ㅞ we, as in “wet” | we |
| 인 | ㅇ + ㅣ + ㄴ | ㅇ silent at the start ㅣ i, as in “see” ㄴ n at the end | in |
Why Wayne is written this way
- Korean makes the “w” sound by joining two vowels into one: ㅗ or ㅜ plus the next vowel — 웨.
- Wayne ends in a consonant, so it sits at the bottom of the last block as a final consonant (받침): 인 has ㄴ at the bottom.
- Say each block evenly. Korean doesn’t stress one syllable over the others the way English does, so Wayne sounds like we-in.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 웨인 ends in a consonant (ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄹ…) at the bottom of the last block, so you say 제 이름은 웨인이에요 (je ireumeun weinieyo). With friends, Koreans add 아 (a) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 웨인 씨 or 웨인 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.