Phrasebook
How to say it in Korean
Find casual, polite, romantic, and respectful Korean forms with examples.
How to Say "Beautiful" in Korean (아름다워): Romantic & Poetic Uses
아름다워
Say 아름다워 (areumdawo) casually or 아름다워요 (areumdawoyo) politely — both mean beautiful in Korean, with a poetic, elevated tone.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Boyfriend" in Korean (남자친구 / 오빠): What Koreans Actually Say
남자친구
The standard word for boyfriend in Korean is 남자친구 (namjachingu), but many women address their boyfriend as 오빠 (oppa) and couples call each other 자기야 (jagiya, babe).
how-to-sayHow to Say "Congratulations" in Korean (축하해 / 축하합니다): All Levels
축하해
Say 축하해 (chukahae) to a close friend and 축하합니다 (chukahamnida) in formal settings — both mean congratulations in Korean.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Cool" in Korean (멋있어 / 쿨해): Style, Personality & Context
멋있어
To say someone looks or acts cool in Korean, say 멋있어 (meosseo) casually — it covers both style and impressive behavior.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Cute" in Korean (귀여워): Casual, Polite & Flirty
귀여워
The most natural way to say cute in Korean is 귀여워 (gwiyeowo) in casual speech or 귀여워요 (gwiyeowoyo) when being polite.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Dad" in Korean (아빠 / 아버지): Casual & Formal
아빠
Say 아빠 (appa) when speaking to or about your own dad in everyday conversation, and 아버지 (abeoji) when the situation calls for more formality or respect.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Delicious" in Korean (맛있어 / 맛있어요): Casual & Polite
맛있어요
Say 맛있어 (masisseo) to a close friend or 맛있어요 (masisseoyo) politely — both mean delicious or 'it tastes good' in Korean.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Friend" in Korean (친구): What It Really Means
친구
The word for friend in Korean is 친구 (chingu), but it specifically refers to someone the same age — not just anyone you're close to.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Girlfriend" in Korean (여자친구 / 자기): What Koreans Actually Say
여자친구
The literal word for girlfriend in Korean is 여자친구 (yeojachingu), but couples commonly use 자기야 (jagiya, babe) when speaking directly to each other.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Good Morning" in Korean: 좋은 아침이에요 & More
좋은 아침이에요
Say 좋은 아침이에요 (joeun achimieyo) politely or 좋은 아침 (joeun achim) casually — though many Koreans simply use 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) at any time of day.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Good Night" in Korean (잘 자 / 잘 자요): Casual & Polite
잘 자
Say 잘 자 (jal ja) to a close friend or 잘 자요 (jal jayo) politely — both mean 'sleep well' and serve as the natural good night in Korean.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Goodbye" in Korean: 안녕히 가세요 vs 안녕히 계세요
안녕히 가세요
Korean has two polite goodbyes: 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) is said to the person leaving, while 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) is said by the person leaving.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Handsome" in Korean (잘생겼어): Casual & Polite Forms
잘생겼어
Say 잘생겼어 (jalsaenggyeosseo) casually or 잘생겼어요 (jalsaenggyeosseoyo) politely to say someone is handsome in Korean.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Happy Birthday" in Korean (생일 축하해): All Forms
생일 축하해
Say 생일 축하해 (saengil chukahae) to a close friend or 생일 축하합니다 (saengil chukahamnida) in more formal settings — both mean happy birthday in Korean.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Hello" in Korean (안녕하세요 / 안녕): Casual to Formal
안녕하세요
Say 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) in most situations and 안녕 (annyeong) only with close friends — both mean hello in Korean.
how-to-sayHow to Say "How Are You" in Korean (잘 지냈어요?): What Koreans Actually Ask
잘 지냈어요?
The most natural way to say 'how are you' in Korean is 잘 지냈어요? (jal jinaesseoyo?) politely or 잘 지냈어? (jal jinaesseo?) casually — but this is used after not seeing someone for a while, not as an everyday passing greeting.
how-to-sayHow to Say "I Love You" in Korean (사랑해): Casual, Polite & Romantic
사랑해
Say 사랑해 (saranghae) to someone you're close to, or 사랑해요 (saranghaeyo) when you want to add warmth and respect at the same time.
how-to-sayHow to Say "I Miss You" in Korean (보고 싶어): Casual, Polite & Romantic
보고 싶어
The most natural way to say 'I miss you' in Korean is 보고 싶어 (bogo sipeo) casually or 보고 싶어요 (bogo sipeoyo) politely — it literally means 'I want to see you.'
how-to-sayHow to Say "I'm Hungry" in Korean (배고파): Casual, Polite & Cute
배고파
Say 배고파 (baegopa) to friends or family and 배고파요 (baegopayo) in polite settings — both mean 'I'm hungry' in Korean.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Let's Go" in Korean (가자 / 갑시다): Casual & Formal
가자
Say 가자 (gaja) to a friend and 갑시다 (gapsida) in a polite or formal setting — both mean 'let's go' in Korean, but the verb ending signals the social relationship.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Mom" in Korean (엄마 / 어머니): Casual & Formal
엄마
Say 엄마 (eomma) when talking to or calling your own mom, 어머니 (eomeoni) in formal or written contexts, and 어머님 (eomeonim) when addressing someone else's mother out of respect.
how-to-sayHow to Say "No" in Korean (아니요 / 아니): Polite, Casual & Nuanced
아니요
The most natural way to say no in Korean is 아니요 (aniyo) politely or 아니 (ani) casually — but Koreans often soften refusals further by adding 괜찮아요 or an explanation.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Older Brother" in Korean (오빠 / 형): Who Says Which
오빠 / 형
Girls say 오빠 (oppa) to an older brother; boys say 형 (hyung). The word depends entirely on the speaker's gender, not the older brother's.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Older Sister" in Korean (언니 / 누나): Who Says Which
언니 / 누나
Girls say 언니 (unnie) to an older sister; boys say 누나 (noona). Which word you use depends on your own gender as the speaker, not the older sister's.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Please" in Korean (제발 / 주세요): Begging vs Polite Request
주세요
Korean has two main 'please': 주세요 (juseyo) for polite requests ('please give/do this') and 제발 (jebal) for heartfelt pleading — they are not interchangeable.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Pretty" in Korean (예뻐): Casual, Polite & Context
예뻐
The most natural way to say 'pretty' in Korean is 예뻐 (yeppeo) casually or 예뻐요 (yeppeoyo) politely — both are warm, everyday compliments.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Sorry" in Korean (미안해 / 죄송합니다): Casual to Formal
미안해
Say 미안해 (mianhae) to a close friend and 죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) in formal or serious situations — they carry very different social weight.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Thank You" in Korean (고마워 / 감사합니다): All Levels
감사합니다
Say 고마워 (gomawo) to a friend and 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) in formal settings — both mean thank you in Korean but belong to different social registers.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Welcome" in Korean (어서 오세요 / 천만에요): Two Different Meanings
어서 오세요
Korean has two 'welcome': 어서 오세요 (eoseo oseyo) for welcoming someone who arrives, and 아니에요 (anieyo) or 천만에요 (cheonmaneyo) for 'you're welcome' after being thanked.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Yes" in Korean (네 / 응): Formal, Polite & Casual
네
Say 네 (ne) in polite everyday settings and 응 (eung) or 어 (eo) with close friends — both mean yes in Korean, but using the casual form with elders sounds disrespectful.