How to Say "Hello" in Korean: Annyeonghaseyo and 5 Other Greetings
Hello in Korean is 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo). Learn when to use the casual annyeong, the formal annyeonghasimnikka, how to answer the phone, and how Koreans really greet each other.
By a native Korean teacher · · 2 min read
The standard way to say hello in Korean is 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo). It is polite, works with almost anyone, and can be used at any time of day. With close friends you can shorten it to 안녕 (annyeong), and in very formal situations Koreans say 안녕하십니까 (annyeonghasimnikka).
Word at a glance
안녕하세요annyeonghaseyo
- Literally
- Are you at peace? / Are you well?
- In natural English
- Hello / Hi
Annyeonghaseyo: the hello that works everywhere
안녕 (annyeong) means peace or well-being, so 안녕하세요 literally asks "Are you at peace?" Nobody thinks about that meaning in daily life, though. It simply means hello.
Use it with shop staff, teachers, neighbors, coworkers, and people you have just met. Korean has no separate "good morning" or "good evening" for everyday use, so 안녕하세요 covers the whole day.
안녕하세요, 처음 뵙겠습니다.
Annyeonghaseyo, cheoeum boepgetseumnida.
Hello, nice to meet you.
선생님, 안녕하세요!
Seonsaengnim, annyeonghaseyo!
Hello, teacher!
Annyeong: hi and bye with friends
Drop the polite ending and you get 안녕 (annyeong), a casual "hi." Use it with friends your age, younger people, children, and pets. Saying it to your boss or someone older would feel too casual.
Annyeong also works as "bye," so the same word opens and closes a casual conversation.
안녕! 오랜만이야.
Annyeong! Oraenmaniya.
Hi! Long time no see.
내일 봐, 안녕!
Naeil bwa, annyeong!
See you tomorrow, bye!
Annyeonghasimnikka: the formal hello
안녕하십니까 (annyeonghasimnikka) is the most formal version. You will hear it from news anchors, in speeches, in the military, and from staff greeting customers at some large companies. In everyday conversation it can sound stiff, so learners rarely need it outside formal settings.
Other ways Koreans greet each other
Once people know each other, greetings often turn into small questions.
- 여보세요 (yeoboseyo): hello on the phone only
- 잘 지냈어요? (jal jinaesseoyo?): How have you been?
- 오랜만이에요 (oraenmanieyo): Long time no see
- 밥 먹었어요? (bap meogeosseoyo?): Have you eaten? A caring greeting, not a lunch invitation
여보세요? 누구세요?
Yeoboseyo? Nuguseyo?
Hello? Who is this?
밥 먹었어?
Bap meogeosseo?
Have you eaten? (a casual "how are you")
Bowing while you say hello
In Korea a greeting usually comes with a bow. A small nod works with peers, a deeper bow from the waist shows respect to elders or in formal settings. Handshakes are common in business, often with a slight bow at the same time.
How to pronounce annyeonghaseyo
Break it into five syllables: an-nyeong-ha-se-yo, roughly "ahn-nyuhng-hah-seh-yo." The ending often rises slightly when said brightly. In fast speech it can sound closer to "annyeongaseyo," because the ㅎ softens between vowels.
Questions people ask
Does annyeonghaseyo mean goodbye too?+
No. For goodbye, Koreans say 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) to someone leaving and 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) to someone staying. Only the casual 안녕 works for both hi and bye.
How do you reply to annyeonghaseyo?+
Just say 안녕하세요 back, usually with a small bow.
Is annyeong rude?+
Not with friends, younger people or children. It is only too casual for people older than you or people you have just met.
Is there a Korean word for good morning?+
좋은 아침이에요 (joeun achimieyo) exists, but it sounds a bit like a translation. Most Koreans simply say 안녕하세요 in the morning.