Korean Dictionary
How to say "Phone call" in Korean
“Phone call” in Korean is 전화 (pronounced "Jeonhwa").
전화
Jeonhwa
Usage & Context
Making or receiving a phone call. 전화하다 (to call), 전화 받다 (to answer a call), 전화 끊다 (to hang up). Koreans often end calls with 끊을게요 (I'll hang up now) before disconnecting. KakaoTalk voice/video calls are widely used as free alternatives to regular calls.
Example Sentence
나중에 전화할게요. 지금은 좀 바빠요.
I'll call you later. I'm a bit busy right now.
How to use 전화 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Phone call” is 전화, romanized as Jeonhwa.
Usage tip
Practice this word inside a full daily-life sentence, because particles and sentence endings make the Korean sound natural.
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 전화.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, '전' (jeon), sounds like 'jeon' in 'john'. The second syllable, '화' (hwa), sounds like 'hwa' in 'flower' (without the 'fl') or 'wa' in 'water' but with a soft 'h' sound before it. The 'h' sound in '화' can sometimes be very subtle or almost silent, making it sound closer to 'juh-nwa'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
전화합니다
Jeonhwahamnida
This is the formal declarative form of '전화하다' (to call).
Casual (반말)
전화해
Jeonhwahae
This is the casual imperative/declarative form of '전화하다' (to call).
More Example Sentences
Asking a favor from a family member.
엄마한테 전화 좀 해줘.
Please call mom for me.
Asking for availability before a call.
지금 전화 통화 괜찮으세요?
Is it okay to talk on the phone right now?
Explaining urgency.
중요한 전화라서 꼭 받아야 해요.
It's an important call, so I must answer it.
Cultural Context
While regular phone calls are common, many Koreans use KakaoTalk's free voice and video call features, especially for calls to friends and family, to save on mobile minutes. When ending a call, it's polite to say '끊을게요' (kkeuneulgeyo, 'I'll hang up now') or '나중에 다시 전화할게요' (najunge dasi jeonhwahalgeyo, 'I'll call you again later') before actually disconnecting.
Editorial note
We review entries like 전화 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
전화하다
To make a phone call
전화 받다
To answer a phone call
전화 끊다
To hang up the phone
Related Expressions
휴대폰
hyudaepon
Cell phone, mobile phone
문자
munja
Text message
전화번호
jeonhwabeonho
Phone number
영상 통화
yeongsang tonghwa
Video call
More Daily Life Words
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