How to Say Hello in Korean: 7 Essential Greetings for Beginners
Essential Korean Expressions
How to Say Hello in Korean: 7 Greetings for Every Situation
Learn which Korean greeting to use with strangers, elders, close friends, coworkers, shop staff, and people on the phone.
Lesson Summary
- 안녕하세요 is the safest everyday greeting.
- 안녕하십니까 is formal and used in professional settings.
- 안녕 is casual and reserved for close friends or younger people.
- 여보세요 is used when answering the phone.
- A slight bow often accompanies polite greetings.
Learning how to say hello in Korean is one of the first steps toward natural conversation. Korean greetings change depending on the listener, setting, and level of respect.
This guide explains seven practical greetings, when to use them, and the body language that helps you sound polite and culturally aware.
Learning how to say hello in Korean is often the very first milestone for any language learner, K-drama fan, or traveler planning a trip to Seoul. However, unlike English where "hello" works in almost any context, Korean culture relies heavily on social hierarchy, politeness levels, and context. Choosing the right greeting shows respect and instantly makes a great impression.
In Korean culture, the way you say hello depends on who you are talking to—whether it is a barista at a coffee shop, your boss at work, a close friend, or someone on the telephone. In this guide, we will break down 7 different ways to say hello in Korean, explain when to use each phrase, and share essential bow etiquette so you can speak with absolute confidence.
1. Standard Polite Hello: 안녕하세요 (An-nyeong-ha-se-yo)
If you only memorize one greeting from this article, make it this one! 안녕하세요 (An-nyeong-ha-se-yo) is the standard polite greeting used in daily life across Korea.
• Hangul: 안녕하세요
• Pronunciation: Ah-nyeong-ha-seh-yo
• Politeness Level: Standard Polite (존댓말 - Jon-daet-mal)
• Literal Meaning: "Are you at peace?" or "Are you doing well?"
When to use it: Use this phrase with strangers, store employees, elders, teachers, taxi drivers, or acquaintances. It is safe, respectful, and appropriate for roughly 90% of everyday real-life situations.
The root word 안녕 (An-nyeong) literally translates to "peace" or "well-being." Adding 하세요 (ha-se-yo) turns it into a respectful question: "Are you in peace?"
2. Extra Formal Hello: 안녕하십니까 (An-nyeong-ha-sip-ni-ka)
When you need to show the utmost level of respect, you should use 안녕하십니까 (An-nyeong-ha-sip-ni-ka).
• Hangul: 안녕하십니까
• Pronunciation: Ah-nyeong-ha-ship-nee-kah
• Politeness Level: Formal / Honorific (하십시오체 - Ha-sip-si-o-che)
When to use it: This formal greeting is common in professional environments, business presentations, TV news broadcasts, military settings, or when addressing a large audience during a speech.
3. Casual Hello for Friends: 안녕 (An-nyeong)
When chatting with close friends or family, you can drop the polite ending and simply say 안녕 (An-nyeong).
• Hangul: 안녕
• Pronunciation: Ah-nyeong
• Politeness Level: Informal / Casual (반말 - Ban-mal)
• Bonus: In casual Korean, "안녕" means both "hello" AND "goodbye"!
When to use it: ONLY use this with close friends of a similar age, younger siblings, children, or people who have explicitly agreed to speak casually (반말) with you. Warning: Using "안녕" with strangers or elders is considered rude!
4. Telephone Hello: 여보세요 (Yeo-bo-se-yo)
When you answer a phone call in Korea, you do not say "안녕하세요". Instead, you use a special telephone greeting: 여보세요 (Yeo-bo-se-yo).
• Hangul: 여보세요
• Pronunciation: Yeo-bo-seh-yo
• Usage: Exclusively used when picking up a phone or calling out to see if someone is listening over a poor connection.
5. "Have You Eaten?": 밥 먹었어요? (Bap meog-eos-seo-yo?)
In Korean culture, showing care for someone's well-being often revolves around food. A very common warm greeting among acquaintances is asking if they have eaten!
| Phrase | Hangul | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polite Greeting | 밥 먹었어요? | Bap meog-eos-seo-yo? | Did you eat? / Have you had a meal? |
| Formal Greeting | 식사하셨어요? | Sik-sa-ha-syeos-seo-yo? | Have you had your meal? (Honorific) |
| Casual Greeting | 밥 먹었어? | Bap meog-eos-seo? | Did you eat? (Casual) |
Cultural Tip: This is often a rhetorical greeting similar to "How are you?" in English. You don't need to give a detailed description of your meal—a simple "Yes, I ate! Have you?" (네, 먹었어요!) works perfectly.
6. Time-Specific Greetings: Good Morning & Welcome
While "안녕하세요" works at any time of day (morning, afternoon, or night), Korea has specific greetings for specialized contexts:
Good Morning (Polite / Formal)
좋은 아침이에요 (Jo-eun a-chim-i-e-yo) = "Good morning"
(Note: Many Koreans still prefer simply saying "안녕하세요!" in the morning).
Welcome! (Shops and Restaurants)
어서 오세요 (Eo-seo o-se-yo) = "Welcome! / Please come in!"
You will hear store staff and restaurant servers shout this enthusiastically the moment you walk through the door!
Korean Greeting Etiquette: Bowing and Body Language
In Korea, physical gestures are just as important as spoken words when greeting someone. Combining a correct phrase with proper bow etiquette demonstrates genuine sincerity.
1. Casual / Daily Bow (15 Degrees): A slight head nod or gentle bend at the waist. Use this when saying 안녕하세요 to shopkeepers, neighbors, or colleagues.
2. Respectful Bow (30 to 45 Degrees): Bend at the waist with your back straight and hands at your sides or folded in front. Use this for elders, supervisors, or formal introductions.
3. Handshake Etiquette: If shaking hands, offer your right hand while lightly supporting your right forearm or elbow with your left hand. Never use a single-handed firm handshake with an elder or boss!
Summary Comparison Table: Korean Greetings
| Greeting | Hangul | Politeness Level | Best Situation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello (Standard) | 안녕하세요 | Polite | Everyday use, strangers, stores, elders |
| Hello (Formal) | 안녕하십니까 | Formal | Business meetings, news, speeches |
| Hello (Casual) | 안녕 | Casual | Close friends, younger people |
| Phone Hello | 여보세요 | Neutral | Answering phone calls |
| Have you eaten? | 밥 먹었어요? | Polite | Caring greeting for acquaintances |
| Welcome! | 어서 오세요 | Polite | Shops, cafés, and restaurants |
Korean Culture Tips
- When unsure, use 안녕하세요.
- A small bow makes greetings feel more respectful.
- 밥 먹었어요? can function as a caring greeting.
- Shop staff may say 어서 오세요; customers usually reply with 안녕하세요 or a polite nod.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Do not use 안녕 with strangers, elders, teachers, or supervisors.
- Do not use 여보세요 as a normal face-to-face greeting.
- Do not use 안녕하십니까 in casual daily situations unless extra formality is intended.
- Use a natural, light bow in ordinary interactions.
Quick Knowledge Check
Read through each scenario and select the correct Korean greeting.
Question 1: You enter a local convenience store in Seoul. What is the best greeting to say to the cashier?
A) 안녕 (An-nyeong)
B) 안녕하세요 (An-nyeong-ha-se-yo)
C) 여보세요 (Yeo-bo-se-yo)
Question 2: How should you answer the phone when a friend calls you?
A) 어서 오세요 (Eo-seo o-se-yo)
B) 식사하셨어요? (Sik-sa-ha-syeos-seo-yo?)
C) 여보세요 (Yeo-bo-se-yo)
Question 3: Which greeting is appropriate to use with your close childhood friend?
A) 안녕 (An-nyeong)
B) 안녕하십니까 (An-nyeong-ha-sip-ni-ka)
C) 어서 오세요 (Eo-seo o-se-yo)
Question 4: What physical gesture should accompany the phrase "안녕하세요"?
A) A high five
B) A slight bow (around 15 to 30 degrees)
C) Waving both hands aggressively
Show Answers
Answers:
1. B) 안녕하세요 — Standard polite is ideal for store staff.
2. C) 여보세요 — This is the standard phone greeting in Korean.
3. A) 안녕 — Casual speech is perfect for close friends.
4. B) A slight bow shows polite respect to the listener.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say hello in Korean politely?
The most common and polite way to say hello in Korean is 안녕하세요 (An-nyeong-ha-se-yo). It can be used at any time of day with almost anyone you meet.
Can I just say "Annyeong" to everyone?
No. "Annyeong" (안녕) is informal casual speech (반말). Using it with strangers, elders, teachers, or staff can be considered rude. Stick to "Annyeonghaseyo" unless you are close friends.
How do you reply when someone says 안녕하세요?
You can simply reply back with the exact same phrase: 안녕하세요! (An-nyeong-ha-se-yo!) along with a slight nod or bow.
Does Korean have separate words for good morning, good afternoon, and good night?
Korean does not strictly separate greetings by time of day like English does. "안녕하세요" covers morning, afternoon, and evening. For "good night," Koreans say 안녕히 주무세요 (An-nyeong-hi ju-mu-se-yo) respectfully.
What does 여보세요 (Yeo-bo-se-yo) mean?
여보세요 literally means "look here" or "listen here," but it is used exclusively as "hello" when answering telephone calls.
Why do Koreans ask "Did you eat?" as a greeting?
Historically, asking about meals was a way to check on someone's well-being during difficult times. Today, asking 밥 먹었어요? is a warm, caring way to greet someone you know well.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to say hello in Korean across 7 different contexts, you are ready to start real interactions with native speakers! Remember: when in doubt, default to 안녕하세요 (An-nyeong-ha-se-yo) paired with a polite bow. Practice pronouncing these phrases out loud, and enjoy taking your next step toward Korean fluency!
