How to say “Yes” in Korean
- 네ne
Yes
"Yes" in Korean is 네 (ne), the polite yes you can use with anyone. 예 (ye) is a slightly more formal version, and with close friends you can say 응 (eung).
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 네 ne | Polite | The everyday polite yes. Safe with everyone. |
| 예 ye | Formal | A slightly more formal yes. Common in workplaces, the military, or when speaking to elders. |
| 응 eung | Casual | "Yeah" for close friends, partners and younger people. |
| 어 eo | Casual | A very relaxed "yeah" or "uh-huh" between close friends. |
| 그래 geurae | Casual | "Sure" or "okay" when agreeing to a suggestion. |
| 맞아요 majayo | Polite | "That's right." Use it to confirm something is correct. |
Examples
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Confirming an order on the phone
A teacher calls your name in class
A friend asks if you have eaten
Tips
네 is also used to show you are listening, like "uh-huh", and 네? with a rising tone means "pardon?" or "what?".
Be careful with negative questions. If someone asks 안 먹었어요? ("You didn't eat?"), answering 네 means "Right, I didn't eat". Korean yes agrees with the statement.
네 sounds close to "neh". Some people hear it as "deh" because Korean ㄴ is soft.
Questions learners ask
Is yes in Korean ne or ye?
Both. 네 (ne) is the everyday polite yes, and 예 (ye) is a little more formal. You can use 네 almost everywhere.
Why do Koreans say ne so often?
네 is used not only for yes but also to show you are listening and to acknowledge what someone said, so you hear it many times in a conversation.