HangulEduPolite
안an녕nyeong하ha세se요yo
Hello
annyeonghaseyo
Strangers, shop staff, neighbors, most adults
How it sounds
Written안녕하세요
Read exactly as written.
- 안녕peace, well-being
- 하세요are you (polite)
Literally: Are you at peace?
How to say hello in Korean
The hello you need almost every day is 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo). Korean has two more: a casual one for friends and a formal one for work. Pick the person and see which one fits.
The safe default for almost everyone
3 forms
Pick the right hello
Korean has three levels of politeness. Choose who you are greeting.
안녕
안녕하세요
안녕하십니까
안녕Hi / ByeFriends, people younger than you. Also means bye.Casual
Written안녕Read exactly as written.
안녕하세요HelloThe safe default for almost everyonePolite
Written안녕하세요Read exactly as written.
안녕하십니까Hello (formal)Greeting your boss in the morningFormal
Written안녕하십니까Said안녕하심니까1십 → 심Nasal
Sounds turn nasal. Before ㄴ or ㅁ, final ㄱ becomes ㅇ, ㄷ becomes ㄴ and ㅂ becomes ㅁ: 감사합니다 is said 감사함니다. ㄹ after these sounds is said like ㄴ: 정류장 → 정뉴장.
Quick check
Your friend's grandmother opens the door. What do you say?
Right. She is older and you do not know her well: polite 안녕하세요, with a small bow.
Not quite. 안녕 is for friends and younger people, and 안녕하십니까 sounds like a soldier or a news anchor at a front door. Polite 안녕하세요 fits.
More ways to greet
Tap a phrase to see how it really sounds.
처음 뵙겠습니다Nice to meet youFormal
Written처음 뵙겠습니다Said처음 뵙껟씀니다1겠습 → 껟씀Nasal · 7 final sounds · Tense
Sounds turn nasal. Before ㄴ or ㅁ, final ㄱ becomes ㅇ, ㄷ becomes ㄴ and ㅂ becomes ㅁ: 감사합니다 is said 감사함니다. ㄹ after these sounds is said like ㄴ: 정류장 → 정뉴장.
Only seven final sounds. At the end of a syllable Korean has only seven sounds: ㄱ ㄴ ㄷ ㄹ ㅁ ㅂ ㅇ. ㅅ ㅆ ㅈ ㅊ ㅌ ㅎ sound like ㄷ, ㅋ ㄲ like ㄱ, ㅍ like ㅂ. 옷 is said 옫 (ot).
Tense, doubled sounds. After a final ㄱ ㄷ ㅂ sound, the next ㄱ ㄷ ㅂ ㅅ ㅈ becomes tense: ㄲ ㄸ ㅃ ㅆ ㅉ. 학교 is said 학꾜 (hak-kkyo).
잘 지냈어How have you been?Casual
Written잘 지냈어Said잘 지내써1냈어 → 내써Linking
The consonant moves forward. When a syllable ends in a consonant and the next one starts with a silent ㅇ, the consonant slides over and starts the next syllable. 먹어 is said 머거 (meo-geo).
밥 먹었어Have you eaten?Casual
Written밥 먹었어Said밤 머거써1밥 → 밤Nasal
Sounds turn nasal. Before ㄴ or ㅁ, final ㄱ becomes ㅇ, ㄷ becomes ㄴ and ㅂ becomes ㅁ: 감사합니다 is said 감사함니다. ㄹ after these sounds is said like ㄴ: 정류장 → 정뉴장.
2먹었어 → 머거써Linking
The consonant moves forward. When a syllable ends in a consonant and the next one starts with a silent ㅇ, the consonant slides over and starts the next syllable. 먹어 is said 머거 (meo-geo).
NoteSaid slowly, word by word: [밥 머거써]
잘 부탁드립니다I look forward to working with youFormal
Written잘 부탁드립니다Said잘 부탁뜨림니다1드 → 뜨Tense
Tense, doubled sounds. After a final ㄱ ㄷ ㅂ sound, the next ㄱ ㄷ ㅂ ㅅ ㅈ becomes tense: ㄲ ㄸ ㅃ ㅆ ㅉ. 학교 is said 학꾜 (hak-kkyo).
2립 → 림Nasal
Sounds turn nasal. Before ㄴ or ㅁ, final ㄱ becomes ㅇ, ㄷ becomes ㄴ and ㅂ becomes ㅁ: 감사합니다 is said 감사함니다. ㄹ after these sounds is said like ㄴ: 정류장 → 정뉴장.
여보세요Hello? (on the phone)Polite
Written여보세요Read exactly as written.
Questions
Is 안녕 hello or goodbye?
Both. Between friends 안녕 means hi and bye. The polite goodbyes are longer: 안녕히 가세요 to someone leaving, 안녕히 계세요 to someone staying.
Do I need to bow?
A small nod or bow with 안녕하세요 is normal with anyone older or anyone you have just met. With friends, a wave is fine.
How do you say hello on the phone?
여보세요 (yeoboseyo). It is only used on the phone; face to face it sounds odd.
Is annyeong rude?
Not to friends, but it is casual speech (banmal). Said to an older stranger or a shop assistant it sounds too familiar.
More phrases
Greetings, small talk and 233 more phrases
Korean alphabet, 240 phrases and quiz games with Korean audio. Works offline.
