What does 고마워 (gomawo) mean?
- 고마워gomawo
Thanks
Casual: friends and people younger than you
고마워 (gomawo) means "thanks" or "thank you" in Korean. It is the casual form, used with friends, younger people and family. With anyone else, use 고마워요 or 감사합니다.
Where it comes from
It comes from 고맙다 (gomapda), "to be thankful," a native Korean word. 고마워 is its casual form.
How to use 고마워
Use 고마워 with people you speak casually to: friends your age, younger siblings, your partner.
Add 요 (고마워요) to be polite with people you know a little. For strangers, staff and elders, 감사합니다 is the most common choice.
To thank someone for a specific thing, put it before: 선물 고마워 (thanks for the gift).
Examples
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Thanking a friend who helped you move
Getting a birthday present
A sweet text to a partner
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 고마워요 | Thank you (polite) | Polite form. |
| 고맙습니다 | Thank you (formal) | Formal form, as polite as 감사합니다. |
| 정말 고마워 | Thank you so much | Stronger thanks. |
| 고마웡 | Thankies | Cute typed version in texts. |
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between gomawo and kamsahamnida?
고마워 is casual and 감사합니다 is formal. Use 고마워 with close friends and 감사합니다 with strangers, staff and older people.
How do you reply to gomawo?
You can say 뭘 (mwol), like "no problem," or 아니야 (aniya), "not at all."