How to say “Hello” in Korean
- 안녕하세요annyeonghaseyo
Hello
"Hello" in Korean is 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo), the polite greeting you can use with almost anyone, at any time of day. With close friends you can shorten it to 안녕 (annyeong), and on the phone Koreans answer with 여보세요 (yeoboseyo).
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕하세요 annyeonghaseyo | Polite | The everyday safe choice for strangers, shop staff, coworkers, teachers and older people. Works morning, afternoon and night. |
| 안녕 annyeong | Casual | Hi to close friends, younger people and kids. It also means bye, so you can use it at both ends of a conversation. |
| 안녕하십니까 annyeonghasimnikka | Formal | Very formal. You hear it from news anchors, store staff greeting customers, in speeches and in the military. |
| 여보세요 yeoboseyo | Any | Only for answering or starting a phone call, like "Hello?" on the phone. It is not used face to face as a greeting. |
Examples
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Greeting a room full of people
Running into a friend
Answering an unknown number
Tips
안녕하세요 literally asks if you are at peace or well, but nobody treats it as a real question. It is simply "hello". Koreans often add a small bow or nod of the head when they say it, especially to older people.
Be careful with 안녕. It sounds friendly, but saying it to a stranger, a boss or someone older can come across as rude. When in doubt, use 안녕하세요.
Pronunciation tip: 안녕하세요 is said smoothly, roughly "ahn-nyoung-ha-say-yo", and the ending often rises a little and sounds cheerful.
Questions learners ask
How do you say hi casually in Korean?
Say 안녕 (annyeong). It is the casual hi you use with friends and people younger than you.
Is annyeonghaseyo polite enough for older people?
Yes. 안녕하세요 is polite and fine for almost everyone, including elders. 안녕하십니까 is even more formal and is mostly used in very formal settings.
How do Koreans say hello on the phone?
They say 여보세요 (yeoboseyo). It is only used on the phone, not in person.