What does 정말 (jeongmal) mean?
- 정말jeongmal
Really / Truly
Fine in most situations
정말 (jeongmal) means "really" or "truly". Said alone as a question, 정말? means "Really?", and before a word it adds emphasis, as in 정말 고마워 ("Thank you so much").
Where it comes from
정말 is commonly traced to 정 (正, "correct" or "true") plus 말 ("words"), so it is close to "true words".
How to use 정말
정말 works almost like 진짜 (jinjja). Both mean "really", but 정말 sounds a little more standard and is slightly more natural in polite speech and writing.
As a question, 정말? is casual and 정말요? is polite. As an intensifier, 정말 fits any level: 정말 감사합니다 is perfectly respectful.
Do not overuse it in every sentence. Like "really" in English, it loses force if it appears everywhere.
Examples
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Hearing good news from a coworker
Thanking a friend who helped you move
Complimenting food at a restaurant
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 정말? | Really? | Casual question. |
| 정말요? | Really? | Polite question. |
| 정말이야 | It's true | Casual, insisting something is true. |
| 정말로 | Truly / For real | Adverb form for emphasis. |
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between jeongmal and jinjja?
They mean the same thing. 진짜 is a bit more casual and common in speech, while 정말 sounds a little more standard and polite.
Is jeongmal polite?
정말 itself is neutral. Add 요 for the polite question 정말요?, and use it freely in phrases like 정말 감사합니다.
How do you say "really?" politely in Korean?
Say 정말요? or 진짜요?. 정말요? sounds slightly more polished.