✅Day 3: How to Say Hello in Korean – Formal, Informal, and Friendly Ways

 

How to Say Hello in Korean – Formal, Informal, and Friendly Ways

Now that you can read Hangul, it’s time to speak! πŸ—£️

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to say "hello" in Korean in different situations. Korean greetings change depending on age, formality, and the relationship between people. But don’t worry — I’ll make it easy and fun!


Why So Many Ways to Say Hello?

Korean is a language that values politeness and hierarchy. So there are different greetings for:

  • Formal situations
  • Casual conversations
  • Very polite or business settings
  • Close friends or younger people

Let’s look at the most common ways to say hello and when to use them.


Top 5 Korean Greetings You Must Know

Korean Romanization Meaning When to Use
μ•ˆλ…•ν•˜μ„Έμš” annyeonghaseyo Hello (formal) Most common polite greeting
μ•ˆλ…• annyeong Hi / Bye (informal) Friends, same age, younger people
μ•ˆλ…•ν•˜μ‹­λ‹ˆκΉŒ annyeonghasimnikka Hello (very formal) News, business, official speech
처음 λ΅™κ² μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€ cheoeum boepgetseumnida Nice to meet you (formal) First meetings, interviews, formal intro
잘 μ§€λƒˆμ–΄μš”? jal jinaesseoyo? How have you been? After not seeing someone for a while


Example Conversations

πŸ‘© Formal situation (meeting your teacher):
– μ•ˆλ…•ν•˜μ„Έμš”! (annyeonghaseyo!)
– 처음 λ΅™κ² μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€. (Nice to meet you.)

πŸ§‘ Casual with a friend:
– μ•ˆλ…•! (annyeong!)
– 잘 μ§€λƒˆμ–΄? (How have you been?)

πŸ§“ Business meeting:
– μ•ˆλ…•ν•˜μ‹­λ‹ˆκΉŒ. (annyeonghasimnikka)
– λ§Œλ‚˜μ„œ λ°˜κ°‘μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€. (Nice to meet you.)


Mini Practice Quiz

Match the situation to the correct greeting:

Situation Greeting
First time at a job interview처음 λ΅™κ² μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€
Talking to your best friendμ•ˆλ…•
Meeting your professorμ•ˆλ…•ν•˜μ„Έμš”
TV news anchor greetingμ•ˆλ…•ν•˜μ‹­λ‹ˆκΉŒ


Tips to Sound More Natural

  • Smile when you say "μ•ˆλ…•ν•˜μ„Έμš”" — it makes it more genuine 😊
  • Use a slight bow for extra politeness
  • Practice out loud until it feels automatic


Coming Up Next: Numbers in Korean (And When to Use Them!)

Now that you know how to greet someone, let’s learn how to count in Korean!

Next lesson, we’ll cover:

  • Two number systems: Native vs Sino-Korean
  • How to say your age, order food, tell time
  • Fun number memory tricks!

You’re going to love it! πŸ”’


Conclusion

You’ve just learned the 5 most common greetings in Korean — including formal and informal expressions.

Now you can say hello like a native speaker, whether you’re meeting friends or your future K-pop idol!

Keep practicing, and you’ll get better every day!