When to use it
성함이 어떻게 되세요? is the respectful version used by staff and with older people. Among people your age, 이름이 뭐예요? is normal.
What people say back
제 이름은 민수예요 (je ireumeun minsuyeyo): My name is Minsu
Letter by letter: 이름이 뭐예요
Korean is written in syllable blocks. Here is what each block of 이름이 뭐예요 is made of.
| Block | Letters | Sounds |
|---|---|---|
| 이 | ㅇ + ㅣ | ㅇ silent, ㅣ i |
| 름 | ㄹ + ㅡ + ㅁ | ㄹ r / l, ㅡ eu, ㅁ m (at the end) |
| 이 | ㅇ + ㅣ | ㅇ silent, ㅣ i |
| 뭐 | ㅁ + ㅝ | ㅁ m, ㅝ wo |
| 예 | ㅇ + ㅖ | ㅇ silent, ㅖ ye |
| 요 | ㅇ + ㅛ | ㅇ silent, ㅛ yo |
Written 이름이 뭐예요, but said [이르미 뭐예요]: linking (final moves to the next vowel). The romanizer explains these sound rules for any word.
New to the letters? Tap through the Hangul chart to hear each one.
How to type it
On a standard Korean keyboard (2-set), press these keys in order:
DㅇLㅣFㄹMㅡAㅁDㅇLㅣSpace␣AㅁNㅜJㅓDㅇShift+PㅖDㅇYㅛ
Practice with the online Korean keyboard, or learn the layout in the typing test.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "What is your name?" in Korean?
The everyday polite way is 이름이 뭐예요? (ireumi mwoyeyo?). The formal version is 성함이 어떻게 되세요?. With close friends, say 이름이 뭐야?.
How do you pronounce 이름이 뭐예요??
It sounds like "ireumi mwoyeyo?", because of Korean sound changes it is said as [이르미 뭐예요]. Press the speaker button on this page to hear it.
Romanization: Revised Romanization of Korean, with sound changes. Audio: a recorded native-sounding Korean voice.
Last checked: 2026-10-20