Korean Dictionary
How to say "Hello" in Korean
“Hello” in Korean is 안녕하세요 (pronounced "Annyeonghaseyo").
안녕하세요
Annyeonghaseyo
Usage & Context
The standard greeting in Korean, appropriate for almost all situations. Literally means 'Are you at peace?' and is used any time of day.
Example Sentence
안녕하세요, 만나서 반갑습니다.
Hello, nice to meet you.
How to use 안녕하세요 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Hello” is 안녕하세요, romanized as Annyeonghaseyo.
Usage tip
Check the politeness level before using this word. Korean greetings often change depending on age, relationship, and setting.
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 안녕하세요.
What learners usually mean by “Hello in Korean”
This is the first Korean greeting most learners need, but the danger is using the casual form too broadly.
Real usage
안녕하세요 is the safest polite hello. 안녕 is casual and works with friends, children, or people who have agreed to speak casually. 여보세요 is for answering the phone.
Avoid this mistake
Do not say 안녕 to a stranger, teacher, manager, or elder unless they have invited casual speech.
Better pattern
Use 안녕하세요 in almost every first meeting, 안녕 with close friends, and 여보세요 when picking up a call.
first meeting
안녕하세요. 처음 뵙겠습니다.
Hello. Nice to meet you.
phone call
여보세요? 누구세요?
Hello? Who is this?
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'an-nyeong-ha-se-yo' — 'an' rhymes with 'on,' 'nyeong' sounds like 'nyung,' and 'haseyo' is light and quick. The 'ng' at the end of 'nyeong' is soft.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
안녕하세요
annyeonghaseyo
Polite, the universal default for greetings — strangers, coworkers, shopkeepers
Casual (반말)
안녕
annyeong
Casual, used only with close friends and children
More Example Sentences
meeting someone new at a business event
안녕하세요, 처음 뵙겠습니다.
Hello, nice to meet you for the first time.
greeting your boss in the morning
안녕하세요, 사장님!
Hello, boss!
running into an old friend
안녕, 오랜만이야.
Hi, long time no see.
Cultural Context
안녕하세요 literally means 'are you at peace?' and covers any time of day — morning, afternoon, or evening. A slight bow usually accompanies it in formal contexts. In shops and restaurants, staff often greet customers with 안녕하세요 in a sing-song tone.
Editorial note
We check greetings like 안녕하세요 for politeness and timing, since Korean greetings change with relationship, age, and setting.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
안녕하세요!
Hello!
안녕히 계세요.
Goodbye (said to someone staying).
안녕히 주무세요.
Good night (formal).
Related Expressions
안녕하십니까
annyeonghasimnikka
hello (very formal, e.g. news anchors)
반갑습니다
bangapseumnida
nice to meet you / pleased to see you
여보세요
yeoboseyo
hello (answering the phone)
안녕히 가세요
annyeonghi gaseyo
goodbye (to someone leaving)
More Greetings Words
Related Guides
How to Introduce Yourself in Korean
To introduce yourself in Korean, say "안녕하세요, 저는 [name]입니다" (Annyeonghaseyo, jeoneun [name]-imnida), which means "Hello, I am [name]." This is the standard polite self-introduction used in almost all situations.
Korean Formal vs Informal Speech
Formal Korean speech (존댓말, jondaenmal) uses polite endings like -요 (-yo) and -습니다 (-seumnida) and is used with strangers, elders, and superiors. Informal speech (반말, banmal) drops these endings and is only used with close friends, younger people, or children.
Basic Korean Greetings
The most essential Korean greeting is "안녕하세요" (annyeonghaseyo), which means "hello" and works in almost every situation. For casual settings with close friends, use "안녕" (annyeong), and for very formal situations, use "안녕하십니까" (annyeonghasimnikka).
Korean Alphabet Basics
The Korean alphabet, called 한글 (Hangul), has 14 basic consonants and 10 basic vowels that combine into syllable blocks. It was scientifically designed in 1443 by King Sejong the Great and can be learned in just a few hours, making it one of the most logical writing systems in the world.
How to Say Welcome in Korean
To say welcome in Korean when someone arrives, use 어서 오세요 (eoseo oseyo), meaning "please come in" or "welcome." For formal events, signs, or announcements, use 환영합니다 (hwanyeonghamnida).
How to Say Good Morning in Korean
To say good morning in Korean, use 좋은 아침이에요 (joeun achimieyo). In many real situations, Koreans simply say 안녕하세요, and with close people they often ask 잘 잤어요? meaning "did you sleep well?"
Related Articles
Welcome Back in Korean: 어서 와 and the Phrases That Actually Matter
Korean has a built-in homecoming ritual that English doesn't. Here's how to say welcome back in Korean, and what happens if you use the wrong register.
Good Morning in Korean: 9 Ways Koreans Actually Say It
Korean has one textbook 'good morning' and a half-dozen real ones. Here's the lineup, sorted by who says it and where, from a Hongdae cafe to the office Kakao chat at 8 a.m.
Guten Morgen auf Koreanisch: What Koreans Say in the Morning
German has Guten Morgen. Korean has something more flexible. Here's why 안녕하세요 works at 7 a.m. and what Koreans actually reach for first thing in the morning.
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Hello and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
