Letter by letter: 거북이
Korean is written in syllable blocks. Here is what each block of 거북이 is made of.
| Block | Letters | Sounds |
|---|---|---|
| 거 | ㄱ + ㅓ | ㄱ g / k, ㅓ eo |
| 북 | ㅂ + ㅜ + ㄱ | ㅂ b / p, ㅜ u, ㄱ k (at the end) |
| 이 | ㅇ + ㅣ | ㅇ silent, ㅣ i |
Written 거북이, but said [거부기]: 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:
RㄱJㅓQㅂNㅜRㄱDㅇLㅣ
Practice with the online Korean keyboard, or learn the layout in the typing test.
Learn all the animals words with flashcards and a typing quiz on the animals in Korean page.
Frequently asked questions
What is "turtle" in Korean?
거북이 (geobugi).
How do you pronounce 거북이?
It sounds like "geobugi". It is written 거북이 but said [거부기] because of Korean sound changes.
Romanization: Revised Romanization of Korean, with sound changes. Audio: a recorded native-sounding Korean voice.
Last checked: 2026-10-20