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Here’s how to say hello in Korean: annyeonghaseyo (안녕하세요), 5 syllables that suit almost anyone. You can say it to a shop clerk, a taxi driver, your friend’s mother or a new coworker at any hour, and it’s polite without being stiff. The 7 other greetings below cover everything else: friends, phone calls, first meetings and the two different ways Koreans say goodbye.
Key takeaways
- Annyeonghaseyo (안녕하세요) works morning, noon and night. Korean has no separate everyday “good morning” or “good evening” that people actually use.
- Annyeong (안녕) is casual. Use it with close friends, children and people younger than you, never with a stranger who is older than you.
- Yeoboseyo (여보세요) means hello only on the phone, or when you call out to someone who can’t see you. Saying it to someone standing in front of you sounds odd.
- Goodbye depends on who leaves. You say annyeonghi gaseyo (“go in peace”) to the person going and annyeonghi gyeseyo (“stay in peace”) to the person staying.
What does annyeonghaseyo mean?
Annyeong (안녕) comes from two Chinese-origin characters that together mean peace or well-being. Haseyo (하세요) is the polite ending that turns it into something like “Are you at peace?” or “Be well.”
It reads like a question, but nobody treats it as one. You never answer “Yes, I’m fine.” You say annyeonghaseyo back.
It’s also time-neutral. English splits greetings by the clock; Korean mostly doesn’t. You’ll find phrases for “good morning” in textbooks, but in daily life Koreans say annyeonghaseyo from breakfast to midnight. One greeting, all day.
How to pronounce annyeonghaseyo, syllable by syllable
Hangul (한글), the Korean alphabet, stacks letters into syllable blocks, so 안녕하세요 is 5 blocks and 5 beats:
- 안 (an): “ahn,” like the start of “on” with an open mouth.
- 녕 (nyeong): “nyuhng.” The eo vowel sits between the u in “fun” and the aw in “saw,” and the final ng is the same sound as in “sing.”
- 하 (ha): “ha.” In fast speech the h nearly disappears, so you’ll hear “an-nyeong-a-se-yo.”
- 세 (se): “seh,” like “set” without the t.
- 요 (yo): “yo.” This is the polite marker, so don’t swallow it.
Korean has no heavy word stress, so keep the beats fairly even rather than punching one syllable. A slight lift on the last syllable sounds warm and friendly. If sound changes like the softened h interest you, our guide to Korean pronunciation rules explains the main ones.
Do you need to bow when you say it?
A small nod or a short bow from the waist usually goes with the word, especially with older people or someone you’re meeting for the first time. With friends, a nod or a wave is enough. Our explainer on why Koreans bow covers how deep to go and when.
How to say hello in Korean at 3 levels of politeness
Korean verbs change their endings depending on who you’re talking to. These endings are called speech levels. Most learners need only three of them, and each one has its own hello.
| Speech level | Hello | Who you say it to | How it feels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal (ends in -mnida / -mnikka) | 안녕하십니까 annyeonghasimnikka | Audiences, customers in formal service settings, very formal workplaces | Crisp, official, a little ceremonial |
| Polite (ends in -yo) | 안녕하세요 annyeonghaseyo | Almost everyone: strangers, staff, elders, coworkers | Respectful and natural, the safe default |
| Casual, called banmal (반말, literally “half speech”) | 안녕 annyeong | Close friends, children, people clearly younger than you who’ve agreed to drop formality | Warm with friends, rude with strangers |
If you’re unsure, pick the polite -yo level. Koreans speaking to someone new usually start there too, and they only switch to banmal once both sides agree, often after one person explicitly suggests it.
When annyeong is fine, and when it isn’t
Annyeong is short and friendly, and it doubles as “bye.” You’ll hear it constantly in K-dramas between school friends and siblings, which is why many learners pick it up first. The catch is age and closeness. Korean social life still orders people by age, so saying annyeong to a shopkeeper in her fifties reads as talking down to her. Save it for friends you’d text in all lowercase.
Annyeonghasimnikka: the formal one you’ll hear on TV
Annyeonghasimnikka (안녕하십니까) is the same greeting at the formal level. News anchors open with it, speakers say it to an audience, and it’s standard in the military and in some traditional companies. As a visitor you rarely need to say it yourself, but you’ll recognize it. Spoken to a friend, it sounds like you’re giving a press conference.
8 Korean greetings to know, with Hangul and romanization
These are the hellos you’ll actually hear and use in Korea. The romanization follows Revised Romanization, the official system you’ll see on Korean road and subway signs.
| English | Korean | Romanization | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | 안녕하세요 | annyeonghaseyo | Your default with strangers, staff, elders and coworkers. Polite. |
| Hi / Bye | 안녕 | annyeong | Close friends, kids, younger people. Casual (banmal). |
| Hello (formal) | 안녕하십니까 | annyeonghasimnikka | Speeches, broadcasts, very formal workplaces. Formal. |
| Hello? (on the phone) | 여보세요 | yeoboseyo | Answering or starting a phone call only. Polite. |
| Nice to meet you (first meeting) | 처음 뵙겠습니다 | cheoeum boepgetseumnida | The very first introduction, especially to someone older or senior. Formal. |
| Nice to meet you / Good to see you | 반갑습니다 / 반가워요 | bangapseumnida / bangawoyo | After introductions, or when you’re glad to see someone. Formal / polite. |
| How have you been? | 잘 지냈어요? | jal jinaesseoyo? | Someone you haven’t seen for a while. Polite. |
| Have you eaten? | 밥 먹었어요? | bap meogeosseoyo? | People you already know, around mealtimes. Polite. Use 식사하셨어요? (siksahasyeosseoyo?) for elders. |
A ninth worth adding to your ear is oraenmanieyo (오랜만이에요), “long time no see,” the natural opener when you run into someone after months apart. It pairs well with jal jinaesseoyo.
Why Koreans ask if you’ve eaten
Bap meogeosseoyo? literally asks whether you’ve had rice, the word for a meal. It works like “How’s it going?” in English: a sign of care, not a lunch invitation.
A short “Ne, meogeosseoyo” (yes, I ate) or “Aniyo, ajiginnyo” (not yet) is all the answer it needs. Don’t use it with strangers. It belongs to people who already know each other.
Yeoboseyo: the hello that’s only for the phone
Yeoboseyo (여보세요) trips up many learners because dramas show it so often. It’s a phone word. You say it when you pick up, when the line goes quiet (“Hello? Are you there?”), and sometimes when calling out to someone you can’t see, like knocking on a door and shouting into an empty shop.
Said to someone standing right in front of you, it sounds like “Hello? Are you listening?” That can come across as impatient. To get a server’s attention in a restaurant, Koreans say jeogiyo (저기요), roughly “excuse me, over here,” instead.
How a Korean phone call usually starts
On a personal call, people often answer with “Ne, yeoboseyo” (네, 여보세요, “Yes, hello?”). The caller replies with a greeting and their name: “Annyeonghaseyo, jeoneun Alex-imnida” (Hello, this is Alex). Businesses answer with the company name instead of yeoboseyo, so don’t expect it when you call a hotel or a clinic.
How to say nice to meet you in Korean
First meetings have their own short script, and following it makes a strong impression. The key phrase is cheoeum boepgetseumnida (처음 뵙겠습니다), which literally means “I am seeing you for the first time,” using a humble verb for “see” that lowers you and raises the other person. It’s formal, which is exactly right for meeting a friend’s parents, a new boss or a host family.
The softer partner phrase is bangapseumnida (반갑습니다), “I’m glad to meet you,” or the polite-level bangawoyo (반가워요). Add mannaseo (만나서), “to meet,” at the front for the full textbook version: mannaseo bangapseumnida. In speech, the -sseumnida ending sounds closer to “-sseum-ni-da,” with a nasal m.
A worked example: introducing yourself
Say you’re meeting your Korean friend’s father for the first time. A natural exchange looks like this:
- You bow and say: “Annyeonghaseyo. Cheoeum boepgetseumnida.” (Hello. It’s my first time meeting you.)
- Add your name: “Jeoneun Alex-imnida.” (저는 알렉스입니다, I am Alex.)
- Finish with: “Bangapseumnida.” (Glad to meet you.)
Three short lines, one bow. You’ve just done what many Korean learners stumble through for months. With someone your own age in a relaxed setting, “Annyeonghaseyo, Alex-ieyo. Bangawoyo” does the same job with less ceremony.
Two ways to say goodbye in Korean
Korean splits goodbye in two, and the rule is simple once you see it. The phrase depends on whether the other person is leaving or staying.
- Annyeonghi gaseyo (안녕히 가세요): “Go in peace.” Say it to the person who is leaving.
- Annyeonghi gyeseyo (안녕히 계세요): “Stay in peace.” Say it to the person who is staying while you leave.
Walk out of a café and the staff will call “annyeonghi gaseyo” after you, because you’re the one going. Your correct reply is “annyeonghi gyeseyo,” because they’re staying. If you part on the street and both of you walk off, you both say annyeonghi gaseyo.
Casual and bedtime goodbyes
Among friends the pair shrinks to jal ga (잘 가), “go well,” and jal isseo (잘 있어), “stay well,” and plain annyeong works too. Daeume bwayo (다음에 봐요) means “see you next time.” At night, wish an elder annyeonghi jumuseyo (안녕히 주무세요), “sleep in peace,” and a friend jal ja (잘 자).
Sugohaseyo: the goodbye you’ll hear in shops
Koreans often leave a shop, taxi or office with sugohaseyo (수고하세요), roughly “keep up the good work.” It’s friendly toward someone working, but because it comments on their effort, it can sound top-down when said to a boss or a much older person. With superiors, stick to annyeonghi gyeseyo.
Korean greetings by situation: shops, offices, elders and friends
Knowing the words is half of it. The other half is matching them to the moment, and Korea has some habits that differ from the US or Europe.
| Situation | What to say | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Walking into a shop or restaurant | Annyeonghaseyo, or just a nod | Staff call out 어서 오세요 (eoseo oseyo, “welcome”). You don’t say it back. |
| Leaving a shop or taxi | Gamsahamnida or annyeonghi gyeseyo | Staff say annyeonghi gaseyo. |
| Meeting a friend’s parents | Annyeonghaseyo plus cheoeum boepgetseumnida, with a real bow | Polite or formal speech throughout. |
| New coworker or business contact | Annyeonghaseyo, name, bangapseumnida | Titles more than first names. |
| Neighbor in the elevator | A quiet annyeonghaseyo and a nod | Often just a nod back, which is normal. |
| Close friend | Annyeong, or their name and a wave | Banmal both ways. |
| Phone call | Yeoboseyo | Businesses answer with their name. |
In shops and restaurants
Eoseo oseyo is the first Korean most visitors hear, and the natural instinct is to repeat it. Don’t. It’s the host’s line, like “welcome in.” Reply with a nod, a smile or annyeonghaseyo. In busy chains and convenience stores, a nod is perfectly normal.
With older people and at work
Age and rank shape greetings at work. The junior person usually greets first, bows a little deeper and uses titles: Koreans rarely call a senior coworker by their given name. Instead they use a job title with the honorific -nim (님), as in sajangnim (사장님) for a company head or business owner. For peers, a name plus -ssi (씨) is common, but never add -ssi to your own name.
One office quirk: you greet a colleague properly once a day. Seeing them again in the hallway an hour later gets a nod, not a second annyeonghaseyo. For the bigger picture of rank and after-work dinners, see our guide to Korean work culture.
With friends
Between friends, greetings get short and playful. Annyeong, the friend’s name, “Bap meogeosseo?” (the casual “have you eaten?”) or even nothing at all beyond a grin. Once you’re on banmal terms, sticking to formal endings can feel like you’re keeping a distance on purpose.
Common mistakes foreigners make with Korean greetings
Most slips are forgiven instantly, but avoiding these will make you sound much more natural:
- Saying annyeong to strangers. It’s the most common one. Keep it for friends and kids.
- Using yeoboseyo face to face. On the phone only. In a restaurant, say jeogiyo.
- Answering annyeonghaseyo with “I’m fine.” It isn’t really a question. Just return the greeting.
- Translating “good morning” word for word. 좋은 아침 (joeun achim) exists and young people use it casually, but annyeonghaseyo is what you’ll hear. For elders in the morning, Koreans ask 안녕히 주무셨어요? (annyeonghi jumusyeosseoyo?), “Did you sleep well?”
- Staying formal with close friends. Formal -mnida endings with a friend of years can sound cold. Follow their lead.
- Dropping the -yo. “Annyeonghase” isn’t a word. The -yo is what makes it polite.
Is it annyeonghaseyo or annyeong haseyo?
In Hangul it’s one word with no space, 안녕하세요, and the standard romanization writes it as one word too. You’ll see “annyeong haseyo” online, and Koreans will understand it, but annyeonghaseyo is the correct spelling and the one to search for in dictionaries.
FAQ
How do you say hello in Korean informally?
Say annyeong (안녕). It’s the casual form, used with close friends, children and people younger than you. With anyone older or anyone you’ve just met, use annyeonghaseyo instead.
How do you reply to annyeonghaseyo?
Say annyeonghaseyo back, usually with a small nod or bow. There’s no “fine, thanks” step. If it’s a first meeting, follow with bangapseumnida, “nice to meet you.”
How do you write hello in Korean?
Hello is written 안녕하세요 in Hangul. That’s 5 syllable blocks: 안, 녕, 하, 세, 요. Hangul has 24 basic letters, so learning to read greetings like this one takes far less time than most learners expect.
What does yeoboseyo mean?
Yeoboseyo (여보세요) is “hello” for phone calls. It’s also used when you call out to someone you can’t see. Don’t use it to greet someone in person.
How do you say goodbye in Korean?
Say annyeonghi gaseyo (안녕히 가세요) to someone who is leaving and annyeonghi gyeseyo (안녕히 계세요) to someone who is staying while you go. With friends, annyeong or jal ga works. When in doubt, gamsahamnida plus a nod is always polite.
Can I just say hi in English in Korea?
In central Seoul many younger people and service staff will understand “hi.” Even so, opening with annyeonghaseyo usually gets a warmer reaction, and it’s useful outside the big tourist areas, where English is less common.
What to learn after annyeonghaseyo
Once hello and goodbye feel automatic, add the handful of words that carry a trip: gamsahamnida (감사합니다) for thank you, ne (네) and aniyo (아니요) for yes and no, jeogiyo (저기요) to call a server, and ___ juseyo (주세요), “please give me ___,” for ordering anything. Then spend an afternoon on Hangul. Reading the menu yourself makes every greeting stick.
If you’re learning from TV, our list of Korean words in K-dramas picks up where this guide stops. For structured courses, the King Sejong Institute, Korea’s government-backed network of Korean language schools, runs classes around the world. Check its official site for locations and online options near you.
Related reading
Sources k-korea.blog
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