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How to Say Hello in Korean?
Updated Words & Meanings
Korean greetings change with formality, unlike English "hello," which stays the same regardless of who you're talking to:
| Korean | Romanised | Formality | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 안녕 | annyeong | Casual | Close friends, people younger than or the same age as you |
| 안녕하세요 | annyeonghaseyo | Standard polite | Most everyday situations |
| 안녕하십니까 | annyeonghasimnikka | Formal | Business, formal speeches, addressing elders very respectfully |
Pronunciation guide
- annyeong — "ahn-nyong"
- annyeonghaseyo — "ahn-nyong-ha-say-yo"
- annyeonghasimnikka — "ahn-nyong-ha-sim-ni-kka"
A cultural note: using the casual annyeong with someone older or in a formal setting can come across as disrespectful, since Korean grammar and vocabulary shift based on the listener's age and social relationship — there's no single all-purpose "hello" the way English has.
Saying goodbye uses different phrases depending on who is leaving: 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo, "go in peace") if you're staying, and 안녕히 간세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo, "stay in peace") if you're the one leaving.
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