Greetings and basic phrases in Korean: all 20 words
| Korean | Sounds like | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 안녕하세요 | annyeonghaseyo | hello | |
| 감사합니다 | gamsahamnida | thank you | |
| 고맙습니다 | gomapseumnida | thank you (native Korean) | |
| 죄송합니다 | joesonghamnida | I'm sorry (formal) | |
| 미안해요 | mianhaeyo | sorry | |
| 네 | ne | yes | |
| 아니요 | aniyo | no | |
| 괜찮아요 | gwaenchanayo | it's okay, I'm fine | |
| 안녕히 가세요 | annyeonghi gaseyo | goodbye (to someone leaving) | |
| 안녕히 계세요 | annyeonghi gyeseyo | goodbye (when you leave) | |
| 처음 뵙겠습니다 | cheoeum boepgetseumnida | nice to meet you | |
| 잘 먹겠습니다 | jal meokgetseumnida | said before eating | |
| 잘 먹었습니다 | jal meogeotseumnida | said after eating | |
| 얼마예요 | eolmayeyo | how much is it? | |
| 주세요 | juseyo | please give me | |
| 저기요 | jeogiyo | excuse me (to get attention) | |
| 잠시만요 | jamsimanyo | just a moment | |
| 사랑해요 | saranghaeyo | I love you | |
| 축하해요 | chukahaeyo | congratulations | |
| 화이팅 | hwaiting | you can do it! |
Good to know
These are the phrases you will say every day in Korea. All of them are in polite form, the ending you use with strangers, staff and anyone older. 안녕하세요 works as hello at any time of day, and 감사합니다 is a safe thank you everywhere.
Korean has two goodbyes. Say 안녕히 가세요 ("go in peace") to someone who is leaving, and 안녕히 계세요 ("stay in peace") when you are the one leaving. Before a meal, people say 잘 먹겠습니다, and after it, 잘 먹었습니다.
Want to practice typing these words? Play Hangul Rain with the greetings and basic phrases words.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 감사합니다 and 고맙습니다?
Both mean thank you and are equally polite. 감사합니다 comes from a Sino-Korean word and is slightly more formal; 고맙습니다 is native Korean. Use either.
How do I say goodbye in Korean?
If the other person is leaving, say 안녕히 가세요. If you are leaving and they stay, say 안녕히 계세요. With friends, a simple 안녕 or 잘 가 is fine.
Romanization: Revised Romanization of Korean, with sound changes. Audio: a recorded native-sounding Korean voice.
Last checked: 2026-10-20