Will, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 윌 | ㅇ + ㅟ + ㄹ | ㅇ silent at the start ㅟ wi, like “wee” ㄹ l at the end | wil |
Why Will is written this way
- Korean makes the “w” sound by joining two vowels into one: ㅗ or ㅜ plus the next vowel — 윌.
- Will ends in a consonant, so it sits at the bottom of the last block as a final consonant (받침): 윌 has ㄹ at the bottom.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 윌 ends in a consonant (ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄹ…) at the bottom of the last block, so you say 제 이름은 윌이에요 (je ireumeun wirieyo). With friends, Koreans add 아 (a) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 윌 씨 or 윌 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.