What are the most common Korean greetings?
In this quick Korean guide, you’ll learn 20+ Korean greetings. But above them all, you should just remember “An-nyeong.” What does it mean?
Keep reading.
Ready? Let’s go.
1. 안녕하세요 Hello (formal)
- Pronunciation: An-nyeong-ha-se-yo
This is one of the most important Korean greetings you should know. When you learn this greeting, it’s already enough for them to say “Oh! You speak Korean well!”, haha! This is the formal way of saying hello in Korean to people, especially for elderly people and those you’ve just met for the first time.
This is the all-around greeting because this can be used regardless of the time of the day, may it be in the morning, afternoon, or evening.
2. 안녕 Hello & Bye (informal)
This is the informal form of ‘hello’ in Korean.
This is usually used between close friends or with people you are really close to. This can also be used on younger people/kids but it’s still much better to use the formal one for the kids that you’ve just met for the first time and also for them to adapt using the formal one.
Important: “An-nyeong” can also be used as an informal way of saying “goodbye”.
3. 안녕히 계세요 Goodbye (when you’re leaving)
- Pronunciation: An-nyeong-hi gye-se-yo
There are two ways of saying bye in Korean, and this one is used when you’re the one who’s leaving. When you are leaving the place, you say ‘an-nyeong-hi gye-se-yo’ to the person who’s staying.
4. 안녕히 가세요 Goodbye (when someone else is leaving)
- Pronunciation: An-nyeong-hi ga-se-yo
Meanwhile, this one is used when saying goodbye to someone who’s leaving. This applies to the person staying and telling the person leaving “goodbye”. To understand these two greetings better, it works like this:
Person leaving: 안녕히 계세요. (Goodbye, please stay well.)
Person staying: 안녕히 가세요. (Goodbye, please go well.)
5. 생신 축하드립니다/생일 축하합니다 Happy birthday (formal)
- Pronunciation: Saeng-shin chuk-ha-deu-rim-ni-da/ sae-ngil chuk-ha-ham-ni-da
How about Korean birthday greetings?
This is how you say ‘happy birthday’ in Korean… to someone who’s way much older than you. This basically applies to greeting elderly people. These two are both formal forms and can be used in the same way.
6. 생신 축하드려요/생일 축하해요 Happy birthday (formal)
- Pronunciation: Saeng-shin chuk-ha-deu-ryeo-yo/ sae-ngil chuk-ha-hae-yo
This is another way of greeting someone a ‘happy birthday’ in Korean. While the first one is the most formal way to greet elderly people (refer to no.5), this one is less formal than that. This is used to greet people who are not that much older than you.
7. 생일 축하해 Happy birthday (informal)
- Pronunciation: Sae-ngil chuk-ha-hae
This is the informal way of saying happy birthday in Korean.
This is mostly used between friends or a group of close people. When you are comfortable with a person with whom you are close, you can simply greet him/her ‘친구 생일 축하해!’ (chin-gu sae-ngil chuk-ha-hae!) which basically translates to ‘Hey friend happy birthday!’.
8. 축하드립니다/축하합니다 Congratulations! (formal)
- Pronunciation: Chuk-ha-deu-rim-ni-da/Chuk-ha-ham-ni-da
As you noticed in greeting ‘happy birthday’, it is ‘sae-ngil chuk-ha-ham-ni-da’ which literally translates to ‘Congratulations on your birthday!’. They often use this word ‘축하드립니다/축하합니다’ as congratulating someone for something. This can be used in any occasion like graduation day, wedding, or something that someone achieved or worth congratulating for. This is used to greet elderly people.
9. 축하드려요/축하해요 Congratulations! (formal)
- Pronunciation: Chuk-ha-deu-ryeo-yo/chuk-ha-hae-yo
This is also a formal way of greeting someone ‘congratulations’ but in a less formal setting.
10. 축하해 Congrats! (informal)
- Pronunciation: Chuk-ha-hae
This is the informal way of congratulating someone. When we are around our close friends, we just usually say ‘hey congrats friend!’ and this is how you say it.
11. 메리 크리스마스 Merry Christmas
- Pronunciation: Me-ri Keu-ri-seu-ma-seu
Here’s how you say Merry Christmas in Korean.
Did it sound so familiar when you tried to pronounce it? Yep, you’re right! This is just basically how everyone greets ‘Merry Christmas’, just in a Korean way, hehe! It is just a borrowed English word, because that’s just how they greet each other in Korea. You can say this to anyone, but just add ‘입니다’ (im-ni-da) to greet the elderly, and ‘요’ (yo) to people who are not that much older than you.
(Example: 메리 크리스마스입니다 or 메리크리스마스요). This is probably the easiest greeting that you can remember.
12. 새해 복 많이 받으세요 Happy New Year (formal)
- Pronunciation: sae-hae bok ma-ni ba-deu-se-yo
Here’s how you say Happy New Year in Korean.
This is a good holiday greeting to know. Hence, it’s on this list of Korean greetings. The phrase literally translates to ‘Have a prosperous/abundant new year!’. You can use this to greet the elderly people and other older people in a formal setting.
13. 새해 복 많이 받아 Happy New Year (informal)
- Pronunciation: Sae-hae bok ma-ni ba-da
This is the informal way of greeting a ‘happy new year’. This can be used on your friends or family members.
14. 오랜만이에요 Long time no see!/It’s been so long! (Formal)
- Pronunciation: O-raen-ma-ni-e-yo
When you meet someone whom you haven’t seen for a long time, you can greet each other with this: ‘오랜만이에요’. It literally means ‘It’s been so long!’. You can use this to greet people who are not much older than you. The less formal way of saying this is ‘오랜만이야’ (o-raen-ma-ni-ya) which is used between close friends.
15. 식사 하셨어요? Did you eat?
- Pronunciation: Shik-sa ha-syeo-sseo-yo?
Aside from the literal meaning of asking someone if he/she had already eaten, this is also the Korean cultural way of saying how are you in Korean.
In Korean history, many people starved to death when Korea was still a poor country. Most especially when it’s winter because there has always been food scarcity. And because of that, they give importance to meals, and this became their cultural way of greeting each other.
16. 좋은 아침이에요. Good morning
- Pronunciation: Jo-eun a-chi-mi-e-yo
This just literally translates to ‘good morning’ as 좋은 means ‘good’ and 아침 means ‘morning’.
Important note: Koreans don’t really greet depending on the time of the day like in other countries greeting with good morning, good afternoon, or good evening. They just use ‘안녕하세요’ (hello; refer to no.1) to greet in any time of the day.
17. 반갑습니다/만나서 반갑습니다 Nice to meet you or Nice meeting you.
- Pronunciation: Pan-gap-seum-ni-da/man-na-seo pan-gap-seum-ni-da
When you meet a person for the first time, you can say ‘만나서 반갑습니다’ which translates to ‘Nice to meet you’. You can also just simply say ‘반갑습니다’. This is the formal way of saying ‘nice to meet you’ which you can basically use to elder people and others who are older than you. A less formal way to say this is 만나서 반가워요 (man-na-seo pan-ga-weo-yo) to people who have not much age difference with you.
18. 잘지냈어요? How have you been?/Have you been well?/How’s your life?
- Pronunciation: Jal-ji-nae-sseo-yo?
This is mostly used on people whom you didn’t talk to much. This can be partnered with no.14 (오랜만이에요) when catching up with people you didn’t meet for so long, as like this: “오랜만이에요!!! 잘지냈어요?” which means ‘It’s been so long!!! How have you been?’. And the amazing thing about Korean greetings is that you can just simply answer using the same question! So if someone asked you ‘잘지냈어요?’ then you can just simply answer ‘네, 잘지냈어요.’ which means ‘Yes, I’ve been doing well.”
19. 환영합니다 Welcome! (welcoming someone who’s coming)
- Pronunciation: Hwan-yeong-ham-ni-da
This is the formal way of greeting ‘Welcome!’ in Korean. This is used when you are welcoming someone and are really delighted to see them. You will notice when you see a welcoming banner in Korean, this is the phrase being used.
20. 어서오세요! Welcome! (Please come in!)
- Pronunciation: Eo-seo-o-se-yo
This is another way of welcoming someone in Korean. But unlike the one in no.19, this one is often used when coming in. You will notice when you go to Korean restaurants or shops or any establishment, they will usually say ‘어서오세요’ as greeting you for coming into their store.
Conclusion
Now, you know the most common Korean greetings.
If you want to remember these phrases, print out this page.
If you have a favorite Korean phrase, leave a comment.
If you want to know how to say some other phrase, leave a comment.
I read ’em all.
– The Main Lingua Junkie
FAQs
Koreans say “안녕하세요 [an nyeong ha seyo]?” while slightly bowing their head when they greet others. “안녕하세요?”is used interchangeably to say “Hi, hello, good morning/afternoon/evening”. You can simply say “안녕?” when you are greeting your friends or a person younger than you.
How do you say hello in Korean step by step? ›
“Hello” (polite): 안녕하세요 (annyeong haseyo) “Hi” / “Hello” (casual): 안녕 (annyeong) “Good day” / “Hello” (formal): 녕하십니까 (annyeong hasimnikka) “Hello” when answering the phone: 여보세요 (yeoboseyo)
What is Si Mi Da in Korean? ›
Basically, it means “thank you.”
What is Jalga Korean? ›
잘 가 (jal ga)
If the other person is leaving, then you can say 잘 가 (jal ga), meaning “go well.”
How do you say goodbye in Korean cute? ›
How to say "Goodbye" in Korean: Learn Korean Ep4 - YouTube
How do you reply to Annyeong? ›
For example, an older man or woman may say “hello” to you by saying the more casual and informal version of “hello,” which is 안녕 (annyeong). In that case, you should still reply with 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo). It shows good manners to greet people older than you with the more respectful version of these phrases.
What is ANYO in Korean? ›
아니오 (anio)
This is the old style of saying “no,” often used in traditional Korean dramas. It's part of an older style of speaking.
What is Annyeong Hashimnikka? ›
안녕하십니까 (annyeong hashimnikka) Good evening. (Evening greeting)
How do you say hello in Korean in a cute way? ›
#11 안뇽 (annyong) - “hiiiii!” in Korean
If you want to sound cute in Korean and learn a bit of aegyo, this is a good greeting to use.
How do you write BTS in Korean names? ›
Description
- RM - 김남준(Kim Namjoon)
- Jungkook - 전정국(Jeon Jeongguk)
- J-Hope - 정호석(Jung Hoseok)
- Jimin - 박지민(Park Jimin)
- Suga - 민윤기(Min Yoongi)
- Jin - 김석진(Kim Seokjin)
- V - 김태형(Kim Taehyung)
Cute Korean Phrases
| English | Korean (한국어) | Romanization |
|---|
| You are handsome! | 잘 생겼어요! | jal saenggyeosseoyo! |
| You are pretty! | 예쁘네요! | yeppeuneyo! |
| You are charming! | 매력적이네요! | maeryeokjeogineyo! |
| You are so cute! | 너무 귀여워요! | neomu gwiyeowoyo! |
24 more rowsSo, in earnest, let's look at the steps you'll need to take to effectively learn Korean.
- Set clear goals, a timeline, and a schedule. ...
- Get a good textbook/method. ...
- Learn Hangul. ...
- Find a bunch of awesome tools online. ...
- Get exposed to as many sentences and dialogues as possible. ...
- Learn as much about the culture as possible.
The word 감사 (gamsa) is a noun that means “gratitude” or “appreciation” in the Korean language. The 합니다 (hamnida) part means “to do.” Put them together, and you get 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida | to do thanks). You can use this phrase to express “thank you” in Korean restaurants, convenience stores, or taxis.
What is Samida in Korean? ›
Basically, it means “thank you.”
What is Isseoyo Korean? ›
5. 시간 있어요 (sigan isseoyo) = there is time/ I have time/ they have time.
Is learning Korean hard? ›
Although Korean might be ranked as one of the more difficult languages to learn by the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), it is by no means impossible. So don't worry about the “hours” it takes to learn Korean. You can learn Korean fast — and you may even already know more Korean than you think!
What does Aish mean? ›
Family and social supports. People with disabilities. Financial assistance for people with disabilities. Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH)
What is the meaning of Bogoshipo? ›
“Kyeopta” (originally pronounced “gwiyeopda”) means “that's cute,” and “bogoshipo” (“bogosipeo”) means “I miss you.” The words are often reflections of a specific facet of Korean culture that cannot be easily translated into English. A screenshot shows YouTube search results featuring the Korean word “aegyo.” (
What does Anyang mean in Korean? ›
The rough translation of anyong, the initiator for saying hello in Korean, is "I hope you are well" or "please be well."
What does JAL Gayo meaning in Korean? ›
잘 가요 (ja gayo) – good bye; take care
However, you can say goodbye in Korean through 잘 가요(jal gayo).
Learn Korean - How to Introduce Yourself in Korean - YouTube
How can I say my name is in Korean? ›
내 이름은 (name)이에요/예요. (nae i-reum-eun [name]-i-ye-yo)
What I can reply to Annyeonghaseyo? ›
Smile, nod your head or say 'Annyeong haseyo' in reply.
What does kumao mean in Korean? ›
1. Thank you; Kumao,Kumasmida,Kamsamida...if u no hear dis one eh... 2.Sorry: Biaonee, Bianada... 3.Hello: Aniosooh ( no mind my spelling)..
Do you say good morning in Korean? ›
The standard way to say good morning in Korean is 좋은 아침이에요(joeun achimieyo). The translation of good morning in Korean is 좋은 아침 but Korean speakers don't typically use it to say “good morning” to people. Instead, they simply say “안녕하세요”(hello).
What is saranghae in BTS? ›
사랑해 (saranghae) = I love you (casual) Spoken between lovers and friends. Best used with people you are really close with and who are the same age or younger than you! 사랑행 (saranghaeng) = I love you (cute, casual) 사랑해용 (saranghaeyong) = I love you (more polite)
How old is an Ahjussi? ›
Ahjussi...? An older guy past their 40s and a young woman in their 20s however is something that will, and does, knock our socks off. The term 'ahjussi' is normally used for older men who you don't properly know. It's almost like the equivalent of calling a stranger 'sir' or 'mister', except it's more age-specific.
How do you say no in Korean? ›
How to Say "No" | Learn Korean - YouTube
What is Yobo SEO in Korean? ›
'yoboseo' is 'hello (when you answer the phone)" in korean. ' yobo is 'darling' in korean ... ' seo' is just "ending of verb' for honorific term i don't know why you ask this question here =,=;;
What does Anya haseo mean? ›
Annyeong haseyo? (안녕하세요?). This literally means 'are you in peace?' , but idiomatically is a polite way of saying 'hello'. Annyeong!
There are two formal ways to say “yes” in Korean. The one you might think of first is 네[ne]. But actually, the first official standard Korean word for “yes” is 예[ye]. Did you know that 네[ne] only became standard in 1988?
What does Jagiya in Korean mean? ›
Jagiya (자기야) is an affectionate way to call your boyfriend or girlfriend. Jagiya is similar to 'honey', 'darling', baby' in English. Both married and unmarried couples can call each other Jagiya. Below you can find some example sentences with Jagiya and some other ways to call your significant other in Korean.
Is hello and goodbye the same in Korean? ›
안녕 is 'hello' and 'goodbye'
Interestingly, 안녕 means 'hello', but also 'goodbye'. So Koreans will say 안녕 when they meet, but also 안녕 as they go their separate ways.
How do Koreans answer the phone? ›
how to answer the phone in Korean - YouTube
Who is first BTS army? ›
Rap Monster was the first to join BTS and the only one from the original line up. He said the famous quote, "Jimin, you got no jams." "My name is Rap Monster, not Dance Monster."
Why is BTS called army? ›
"A.R.M.Y" stands for "Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth" and it carries quite some meaning behind it, given that "Army" is associated with the military, body armor, and how those two things are always together, the fandom name basically means that fans will always be together with BTS.
What is BTS called in English? ›
The septet's name, BTS, stands for the Korean phrase Bangtan Sonyeondan (Korean: 방탄소년단; Hanja: 防彈少年團), literally meaning "Bulletproof Boy Scouts". According to member J-Hope, the name signifies the group's desire "to block out stereotypes, criticisms, and expectations that aim on adolescents like bullets".
What is the most beautiful Korean word? ›
“Hyodo” is one of the most beautiful Korean words in the Korean language. It refers to dedicating yourself to your parents by taking good care of them until they die. For instance, anything that you do to give your parents love or gratitude is “hyodo”.
What do Korean call their girlfriend? ›
여자친구 (“yeo-ja-chin-gu”) — Girlfriend
It's not really a nickname, but just in case you wanted to know the Korean word for “girlfriend,” here it is. It's the combination of 여자 (“yeo-ja”) which means woman, and 친구 (“chin-gu”) which means friend.
What do Koreans call their boyfriend? ›
남자친구 (nam-ja-chin-gu) — boyfriend
The standard Korean word for boyfriend is 남자친구, pronounced as namjachingu. 남자 (namja) means “man” while 친구 (chingu) means “friend.” In Korean slang, many words are contracted so make it informal. In this case, 남자친구 (namjachingu) becomes 남친 (namchin).
- Create a Korean Language Learning Schedule. ...
- Choose the Right Language Learning Method. ...
- Learn Korean Hangul. ...
- Focus on High-Frequency Korean Words. ...
- Use Konglish to Reach Fluency FASTER! ...
- Change How You Use Flashcards. ...
- Buy a Good Korean Textbook. ...
- Practice with a Korean Speaker.
More videos on YouTube
- Listen to BTS interviews. Write out and learn the new words. ...
- Read BTS biographies. Write out and learn the new words. ...
- Subscribe to BTS social accounts and read their news every day. ...
- Find a Korean native speaker who is also fond of BTS and discuss your passion for BTS with them.
아니오 (anio)
This is the old style of saying “no,” often used in traditional Korean dramas. It's part of an older style of speaking.
How do you greet someone in Korean formal? ›
안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) is the formal and polite way to greet someone. This is the phrase that is used most often with people. 안녕 (annyeong) is the informal version that is used with people you are close with.
What is Annyeonghaseyo? ›
Basically, the English to Korean word translation of hello is annyeonghaseyo. The Annyeonghaseyo meaning can also be “how are you?” and they usually say annyeonghaseyo as a greeting when they are talking to someone in person. But in the case of a phone call, they usually answer with 여보세요? (yoboseyo).
What does Yeoboseyo mean? ›
여보세요 • (yeoboseyo) hello (when asking or answering the telephone) hello (when trying to get the attention of someone who does not appear to be listening)
What is Jinjja in Korean? ›
진짜 • (jinjja) really; actually.
What does Aja means in Korean? ›
Here it is..... Aja aja fighting. is a term used in Korea and worldwide meaning simply. "Never give up, never stop fighting". It is generally pronounced aja aja hwaiting, however is commonly written in the English equivalent.
What does Opso mean in Korean? ›
없어 / Opso - Which comes from the verb 없다 / Opso means “there is not” or “I/he/she/etc. doesn't have something”. This specific conjugation is informal (only use with friends, younger people, animals, etc.)
What Oppa means? ›
Borrowed from Korean 오빠 (oppa, “elder brother or close elder male friend (of a female)”).
안녕하십니까 (annyeong hashimnikka) Good evening. (Evening greeting)
How do you say hello in Korean in a cute way? ›
#11 안뇽 (annyong) - “hiiiii!” in Korean
If you want to sound cute in Korean and learn a bit of aegyo, this is a good greeting to use.
What should I reply to Annyeonghaseyo? ›
Often, it might happen that before a person responds to your greeting by also saying 'annyeonghaseyo', they say '네' (yes), to answer that they are fine. Sometimes, older people or those with higher rank than the speaker will just respond with a firm yes, so don't worry if they don't complete the whole greeting.
What is Kamsamnida? ›
Kamsahamnida (감사합니다) – “Thank you”
How do u say good morning in Korean? ›
How to Say Greetings | Learn Korean - YouTube
What is Yeobo mean in Korean? ›
Yeobo Meaning
You might have also come across the term “yobo.” Sometimes, 여보 (yeobo) is romanized as yobo. However, don't be confused. Both of them mean “honey” in Korean.
What does Yobo Sayo mean in Korean? ›
'yoboseo' is 'hello (when you answer the phone)" in korean. ' yobo is 'darling' in korean ... '
How do you say Yeobo? ›
Yeobo (여보) is pronounced [yeo-bo].
