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
The most natural way to say "beautiful" in Korean is 아름다워 (areumdawo) casually or 아름다워요 (areumdawoyo) politely.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Boyfriend" in Korean (남자친구 / 오빠): What Koreans Actually Say
남자친구
The literal word for boyfriend in Korean is 남자친구 (namjachingu), but in practice many Korean women call their boyfriend 오빠 (oppa) and couples call each other 자기 (jagi, 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 appearance and 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 informally, and 아버지 (abeoji) in formal or respectful contexts.
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 in Korean culture 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 자기 (jagi, babe) when speaking directly to each other.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Good Morning" in Korean: 좋은 아침이에요 & More
좋은 아침이에요
The most natural good morning in Korean is 좋은 아침이에요 (joeun achimieyo) politely or 좋은 아침 (joeun achim) casually — though many Koreans simply say 안녕 (annyeong) or 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) at any time of day.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Good Night" in Korean (잘 자 / 잘 자요): Casual & Polite
잘 자
The most natural way to say good night in Korean is 잘 자 (jal ja) to a friend or 잘 자요 (jal jayo) for a polite version — literally 'sleep well.'
how-to-sayHow to Say "Goodbye" in Korean: 안녕히 가세요 vs 안녕히 계세요
안녕히 가세요
Korean has two polite goodbyes: 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo, go well) is said to the person leaving, while 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo, stay well) is said by the person who is leaving.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Handsome" in Korean (잘생겼어): Casual & Polite Forms
잘생겼어
The most natural way to say "handsome" in Korean is 잘생겼어 (jalsaenggyeosseo) casually or 잘생겼어요 (jalsaenggyeosseoyo) politely.
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 formal settings.
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 typically used after not seeing someone for a while, not as a passing greeting.
how-to-sayHow to Say "I Love You" in Korean (사랑해): Casual, Polite & Romantic
사랑해
The most natural way to say "I love you" in Korean is 사랑해 (saranghae) to someone close, or 사랑해요 (saranghaeyo) in a polite or emotionally weighty moment.
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.
how-to-sayHow to Say "I'm Hungry" in Korean (배고파): Casual, Polite & Cute
배고파
The most natural way to say "I'm hungry" in Korean is 배고파 (baegopa) casually or 배고파요 (baegopayo) politely.
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.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Mom" in Korean (엄마 / 어머니): Casual & Formal
엄마
Say 엄마 (eomma) when talking to or calling your own mom, and 어머니 (eomeoni) in formal, polite, or written contexts.
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.
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 changes depending on the speaker's gender.
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.
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') and 제발 (jebal) for heartfelt pleading ('please, I'm begging you').
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.
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.
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 — they both mean thank you but belong to different social levels.
how-to-sayHow to Say "Welcome" in Korean (어서 오세요 / 천만에요): Two Different Meanings
어서 오세요
Korean has two meanings of 'welcome': 어서 오세요 (eoseo oseyo) means 'welcome, come on in' and 천만에요 (cheonmaneyo) or 아니에요 (anieyo) means '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 settings and 응 (eung) or 어 (eo) casually — both mean yes in Korean.