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Basic Korean words and phrases

The most useful basic Korean words are 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo, hello), 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida, thank you), 네 (ne, yes), 아니요 (aniyo, no) and 주세요 (juseyo, please give me). Learn them as whole polite phrases and you can greet people, order and ask for help.

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Your turn: try saying안녕하세요annyeonghaseyo

Where will you use these phrases?

Pick one to start your plan. It takes about a minute.

Greetings

Greetings and goodbyes

안녕하세요annyeonghaseyoHello
polite

Works with almost anyone, any time of day.

만나서 반가워요mannaseo bangawoyoNice to meet you
polite
잘 지냈어요?jal jinaesseoyo?Have you been well?
polite

The usual "how are you" with someone you have not seen for a while.

오랜만이에요oraenmanieyoLong time no see
polite
밥 먹었어요?bap meogeosseoyo?Have you eaten?
polite

A friendly check-in, often used like "how are you".

안녕히 가세요annyeonghi gaseyoGoodbye (to someone leaving)
polite
안녕히 계세요annyeonghi gyeseyoGoodbye (when you leave and they stay)
polite
또 만나요tto mannayoSee you again
polite
Practice these out loud with a tutor
Polite basics

Polite basics

  • 감사합니다gamsahamnidaThank you
    formal

    The safe default with staff, strangers and older people.

  • 고마워요gomawoyoThanks
    polite

    Warmer and a little less formal. Fine with people you know.

  • 죄송합니다joesonghamnidaI'm sorry
    formal
  • 미안해요mianhaeyoI'm sorry
    polite

    Softer, for small things with people you know.

  • 실례합니다sillyehamnidaExcuse me
    formal

    Before interrupting or asking a stranger something.

  • 잠깐만요jamkkanmanyoJust a moment / Excuse me
    polite

    Also what you say to squeeze past people on a crowded subway.

  • 네neYes
    polite
  • 아니요aniyoNo
    polite
  • 괜찮아요gwaenchanayoIt's okay / I'm fine / No, thanks
    polite

    Very flexible. With a wave of the hand, it politely declines an offer.

  • 천만에요cheonmaneyoYou're welcome
    polite

    Textbook standard. In daily life many people just say 아니에요 (anieyo), "not at all."

Questions

Questions and when you are stuck

  • 이름이 뭐예요?ireumi mwoyeyo?What's your name?
    polite
  • 어디에서 왔어요?eodieseo wasseoyo?Where are you from?
    polite
  • 이게 뭐예요?ige mwoyeyo?What is this?
    polite
  • 얼마예요?eolmayeyo?How much is it?
    polite
  • 영어 할 줄 아세요?yeongeo hal jul aseyo?Do you speak English?
    polite
  • 무슨 뜻이에요?museun tteusieyo?What does it mean?
    polite
  • 다시 말해 주세요dasi malhae juseyoPlease say that again
    polite
  • 천천히 말해 주세요cheoncheonhi malhae juseyoPlease speak slowly
    polite
  • 잘 모르겠어요jal moreugesseoyoI'm not sure / I don't know
    polite
  • 한국어 조금 해요hangugeo jogeum haeyoI speak a little Korean
    polite
Food

Food and ordering

  • 메뉴 주세요menyu juseyoThe menu, please
    polite
  • 이거 주세요igeo juseyoThis one, please
    polite

    Point and say it. Works in restaurants and shops.

  • 물 주세요mul juseyoWater, please
    polite
  • 맵지 않게 해 주세요maepji anke hae juseyoNot spicy, please
    polite
  • 잘 먹겠습니다jal meokgetseumnidaThank you for the meal (before eating)
    formal

    Literally "I will eat well." Said before a meal, especially when someone else made or paid for it.

  • 맛있어요!masisseoyo!It's delicious!
    polite
  • 잘 먹었습니다jal meogeotseumnidaThank you for the meal (after eating)
    formal
  • 계산해 주세요gyesanhae juseyoThe check, please
    polite
  • 밥 먹자!bap meokja!Let's eat!
    casual

    With friends. Politely: 같이 먹어요 (gachi meogeoyo), "let's eat together."

Getting around

Getting around

  • 화장실이 어디예요?hwajangsiri eodiyeyo?Where is the restroom?
    polite
  • 지하철역이 어디예요?jihacheollyeogi eodiyeyo?Where is the subway station?
    polite
  • 여기로 가 주세요yeogiro ga juseyoPlease take me here
    polite

    Say it to a taxi driver while showing an address.

  • 얼마나 걸려요?eolmana geollyeoyo?How long does it take?
    polite
  • 여기서 내려 주세요yeogiseo naeryeo juseyoPlease let me off here
    polite
  • 왼쪽oenjjokLeft
  • 오른쪽oreunjjokRight
  • 직진jikjinStraight ahead
Feelings

Feelings and reactions

  • 좋아요joayoGood / I like it
    polite
  • 진짜요?jinjjayo?Really?
    polite
  • 배고파요baegopayoI'm hungry
    polite
  • 피곤해요pigonhaeyoI'm tired
    polite
  • 재미있어요jaemiisseoyoIt's fun / It's interesting
    polite
  • 사랑해요saranghaeyoI love you
    polite
  • 대박!daebak!Awesome! / No way!
    slang

    Very common with friends. Avoid it in formal settings.

  • 화이팅!hwaiting!You can do it! / Go for it!
    casual

    From English "fighting." The standard spelling is 파이팅 (paiting); both are common.

Learn them

How to learn these phrases

Learn whole phrases, not single words

주세요 can work alone when it is clear what you want, but adding the item makes the request clearer: 물 주세요 is something you can say tonight. Phrases give you grammar for free.

Say them out loud

Read each phrase in Hangul, then say it three times without looking. Speaking it is what makes it come out when you need it.

Stick with 요 endings

Almost every phrase here ends in 요 or 니다. That polite level is right with strangers, staff and anyone older, so you will rarely sound rude.

Use them in a scene

Practice a group of phrases together, like ordering in a cafe or asking for directions. Tooter's AI tutors can play the server or the passerby so you hear real replies.

Your tutors

Say it out loud with a Korean tutor

Lifelike AI tutors play the other person and correct you as you speak. Pick one to start.

Minjiconversation-firstPractice with Minji Hanatravel-focusedPractice with Hana Jisooculture-richPractice with Jisoo Yunaconfidence-buildingPractice with Yuna Soranatural correctionPractice with Sora Jiwoofluency-drivenPractice with Jiwoo Nariscenario-ledPractice with Nari Sujinrhythm-awarePractice with Sujin
FAQ

Questions learners ask

What are basic Korean words?

Start with 안녕하세요 (hello), 감사합니다 (thank you), 죄송합니다 (sorry), 네 (yes), 아니요 (no), 주세요 (please give me) and 괜찮아요 (it's okay). These cover most first conversations.

How do Koreans say "let's eat"?

With friends, say 밥 먹자 (bap meokja). Politely, say 같이 먹어요 (gachi meogeoyo) or 식사하러 가요 (siksahareo gayo), "let's go have a meal." Before eating, Koreans say 잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokgetseumnida).

How do you say 1 to 10 in Korean?

Korean has two sets of numbers. Native Korean: 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷, 다섯, 여섯, 일곱, 여덟, 아홉, 열 (hana to yeol). Sino-Korean: 일, 이, 삼, 사, 오, 육, 칠, 팔, 구, 십 (il to sip).

What is the most famous Korean word?

There is no official answer, but words like 안녕하세요 (hello), 사랑해 (saranghae, I love you), 대박 (daebak, awesome) and 오빠 (oppa) are among the best known outside Korea, thanks to K-dramas and K-pop.

What is the easiest way to remember Korean phrases?

Learn them in small groups by situation, say them out loud daily, and use them in a short role play. Phrases you have actually spoken are much easier to recall than ones you only read.

How do you say thank you in Korean?

Say 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) to strangers and staff, or 고마워요 (gomawoyo) with people you know. With close friends, 고마워 (gomawo) is enough.

How do you say yes and no in Korean?

Yes is 네 (ne) and no is 아니요 (aniyo). Both are polite. With close friends you can say 응 (eung) for yes and 아니 (ani) for no.

What does juseyo mean?

주세요 (juseyo) means please give me. Put it after what you want, like 물 주세요 (mul juseyo), water, please. It is one of the most useful words in shops and restaurants.

Keep going
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Updated October 23, 2026. Tooter tutors are AI characters, not human teachers. Romanization follows Revised Romanization.