Basic Korean Words and Phrases for Beginners (With Romanization)

The basic Korean words and phrases a beginner needs first are 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo, hello), 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida, thank you), 네 (ne, yes), 아니요 (aniyo, no), 죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida, I am sorry), 이거 주세요 (igeo juseyo, this one, please) and 얼마예요? (eolmayeyo, how much is it?). Say them in the polite -요 (yo) style and you can greet, shop and order anywhere.

Every phrase below is written in Hangul, then in Revised Romanization (the standard published by the National Institute of Korean Language), then in English. Romanization is a crutch for the first few weeks. Learn the Hangul alongside it, because the spelling tells you things the Latin letters hide.

Greetings and polite basics

Korean puts politeness in the verb ending, so each phrase has a level. The polite -요 style is your default with anyone you do not know well. A few set phrases are usually said in the formal -ㅂ니다 (-mnida) style, and they are normal with strangers and shop staff.

The two goodbyes are literal. 가세요 comes from 가다 (gada, to go), so you say it to the person walking away. 계세요 comes from 계시다 (gyesida, the honorific "to be, to stay"), so you say it to the person staying behind. Leaving a shop, you say 안녕히 계세요; the staff answer 안녕히 가세요.

Yes, no and getting by

주세요 (juseyo, please give me) is the most useful word on this page. Put any noun in front of it: 커피 주세요 (keopi juseyo), coffee, please. Our guide to ordering food in a Korean restaurant builds a full meal out of it.

Introducing yourself

The ending is -예요 (yeyo) after a vowel and -이에요 (ieyo) after a consonant, which is why it is 사라예요 but 학생이에요. The 는 (neun) in 저는 is the topic marker; our guide to 은/는 and 이/가 explains when it changes.

Core words to build sentences

The verbs are already in the polite present, so each one is a full sentence. 좋아요 alone means "sounds good." 물 있어요? means "do you have water?"

The two number systems

Korean counts with two sets of numbers. Use native Korean numbers for counting things and people, for your age, and for the hour on a clock. Use Sino-Korean numbers for money, dates, phone numbers and minutes.

Native one to four shorten before a counter word: 하나 becomes 한, 둘 becomes 두, 셋 becomes 세, 넷 becomes 네. Our guide to native and Sino-Korean numbers covers counters, time and prices in full.

Six mistakes English speakers make

1. Doubled consonants are a different sound

ㄲ ㄸ ㅃ ㅆ ㅉ are tense consonants: tighten your throat and release with no puff of air, like the p in "spin." They change the word.

2. ㅓ and ㅗ are two vowels

ㅓ (eo) is one sound, said with relaxed, unrounded lips, close to the u in "cup" but further back. ㅗ (o) is said with rounded lips, like the o in "go" without the glide at the end. Mix them up and 고기 (gogi), meat, becomes 거기 (geogi), there. Our Hangul pronunciation guide drills both.

3. 네 means yes, even though it sounds like "nah"

네 (ne) sounds like "neh," which English ears can hear as a casual no. It is a polite yes. Said with a rising tone, 네? means "pardon?" And before a counter, 네 is the shortened four: 네 명 (ne myeong), four people.

4. Saying 저는 in every sentence

Most parts of a Korean sentence are optional, including the subject, when context makes it clear. 뭐 해요? (mwo haeyo?) is "what are you doing?" with no "you," and the answer 공부해요 (gongbuhaeyo) is "I'm studying" with no "I." Starting every line with 저는 sounds like a textbook.

5. Putting the verb in the middle

Korean is verb-final. "I drink coffee" is 저는 커피를 마셔요 (jeoneun keopireul masyeoyo), literally "I coffee drink." Hold the verb until the end, which is also where the politeness ending sits.

6. Swapping the two goodbyes

Saying 안녕히 가세요 (go in peace) to a shopkeeper when you are the one leaving tells them to go. You are leaving, so you say 안녕히 계세요 (stay in peace).

Say this today

Five sentences that cover a first conversation. Say each one out loud three times.

Swap in your own name and you have an introduction. When you want to hear how these sound and get corrected, practice them out loud with Polly in PollyStop.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most basic Korean words for beginners?

Start with 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo, hello), 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida, thank you), 네 (ne, yes), 아니요 (aniyo, no), 죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida, sorry) and 주세요 (juseyo, please give me). Then add the question words 뭐, 어디 and 얼마 and the numbers one to ten.

Should a beginner learn formal or polite Korean first?

Learn the polite -요 style first. It is the safe default with strangers, coworkers and anyone older than you. Add the formal -ㅂ니다 set phrases such as 감사합니다, and keep casual speech for close friends who invite you to use it.

How do you say thank you in Korean?

감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) is the formal thank you and works with anyone. 고마워요 (gomawoyo) is polite and a little warmer. 고마워 (gomawo), without 요, is casual and only for close friends.

Is Korean romanization enough to learn Korean?

No. Revised Romanization is a useful crutch, but it hides sounds such as the difference between plain and tense consonants. Use it as a bridge for the first weeks and switch to reading Hangul as early as you can.