Korean Dictionary
How to say "Do you speak English?" in Korean
“Do you speak English?” in Korean is 영어 할 수 있어요 (pronounced "Yeongeo hal su isseoyo").
영어 할 수 있어요
Yeongeo hal su isseoyo
Usage & Context
Asking if someone can communicate in English. In tourist areas and among younger Koreans, English proficiency is increasing. Use a translation app like Papago (Naver's Korean translation app) or Google Translate as a backup. Most major hotels and tourist sites have English speakers.
Example Sentence
죄송한데요, 영어 할 수 있어요?
Excuse me, do you speak English?
How to use 영어 할 수 있어요 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Do you speak English?” is 영어 할 수 있어요, romanized as Yeongeo hal su isseoyo.
Usage tip
Pair this travel word with polite request endings like -요 so it works in hotels, stations, taxis, and shops.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 영어 할 수 있어요.
Pronunciation Guide
'영어 할 수 있어요?' (Yeongeo hal su isseoyo?) is pronounced 'yung-gaw hahl soo ee-ssaw-yoh?'. '영어' (Yeongeo) sounds like 'young-gaw'. '할 수' (hal su) is like 'hahl soo'. '있어요?' (isseoyo?) is like 'ee-ssaw-yoh?' with a rising intonation for the question.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
영어 할 수 있습니까?
Yeongeo hal su isseumnikka?
A more formal and respectful way to ask, suitable for official settings or addressing elders.
Casual (반말)
영어 할 수 있어?
Yeongeo hal su isseo?
A casual way to ask, used among close friends or people younger than you.
More Example Sentences
Politely asking a stranger for help in a non-touristy area.
죄송한데요, 혹시 영어 할 수 있어요?
Excuse me, by any chance, do you speak English?
At a store or service center, looking for an English-speaking employee.
여기 직원 중에 영어 할 수 있는 분 계세요?
Is there anyone among the staff here who can speak English?
Asking for clarification after a misunderstanding.
영어 할 수 있으면 설명 좀 부탁해요.
If you can speak English, please explain it to me.
Cultural Context
While English proficiency is growing, especially among younger generations and in major tourist hubs like Seoul's Myeongdong or Hongdae, it's not universally spoken. Koreans generally appreciate the effort when foreigners try to speak Korean first. If you need to switch to English, starting with '죄송한데요' (joesonghandeyo - 'Excuse me/I'm sorry') before asking '영어 할 수 있어요?' is considered polite. Many Koreans, even if they understand English, might be shy to speak it.
Editorial note
We review entries like 영어 할 수 있어요 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
죄송합니다.
I'm sorry.
도와주세요.
Please help me.
천천히 말해주세요.
Please speak slowly.
Related Expressions
한국어 할 수 있어요?
Hangugeo hal su isseoyo?
Do you speak Korean?
이해했어요.
Ihaehhaesseoyo.
I understood.
이해 못 했어요.
Ihae mot haesseoyo.
I didn't understand.
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