Learn Korean for beginners.

Start with the vowel shapes. The Latin letters are romanization hints; eo and eu each stand for one vowel sound. Audio reads a syllable with a silent initial ㅇ.

• ㅏa · a
• ㅑya · ya
• ㅓeo · eo
• ㅕyeo · yeo
• ㅗo · o
• ㅛyo · yo
• ㅜu · u
• ㅠyu · yu
• ㅡeu · eu
• ㅣi · i

Learn the shapes and their reading hints. A consonant can sound different depending on its position and neighboring letters. Audio reads the Korean letter name, not an isolated consonant sound.

• ㄱg / k · g / k
• ㄴn · n
• ㄷd / t · d / t
• ㄹr / l · r / l
• ㅁm · m
• ㅂb / p · b / p
• ㅅs · s
• ㅇsilent / ng · Silent at the start; ng at the endCompare 아 (a) and 앙 (ang).
• ㅈj · j
• ㅊch · ch — a puff of air
• ㅋk · k — a puff of air
• ㅌt · t — a puff of air
• ㅍp · p — a puff of air
• ㅎh · h

Read one syllable block at a time, from left to right. These short words use simple blocks without a final consonant.

• 우유uyu · Milk우 + 유 → 우유
• 아이ai · Child아 + 이 → 아이
• 바다bada · Sea바 + 다 → 바다
• 나무namu · Tree나 + 무 → 나무
• 모자moja · Hat모 + 자 → 모자
• 바나나banana · Banana바 + 나 + 나 → 바나나

Use these polite expressions with people you do not know well. For goodbye, choose the phrase according to whether the other person is leaving or staying.

• 안녕하세요annyeonghaseyo · HelloA polite everyday greeting.
• 감사합니다gamsahamnida · Thank youA polite way to express thanks.
• 죄송합니다joesonghamnida · I am sorryUse this to apologize politely.
• 네ne · YesA polite yes or acknowledgement.
• 아니요aniyo · NoA polite negative reply.
• 안녕히 가세요annyeonghi gaseyo · Goodbye — the other person is leavingSay this to someone who is leaving.
• 안녕히 계세요annyeonghi gyeseyo · Goodbye — the other person is stayingSay this when you leave and the other person stays.
• 만나서 반갑습니다mannaseo bangapseumnida · Nice to meet youA polite phrase for a first meeting.

Practice a few short requests. Speak clearly, listen to the reply, and ask the speaker to slow down when you need help.

• 물 주세요mul juseyo · Water, please물 means water; 주세요 is a polite request for something.
• 이거 얼마예요?igeo eolmayeyo · How much is this?Use this while indicating the item.
• 화장실이 어디예요?hwajangsiri eodiyeyo · Where is the restroom?화장실 means restroom; 어디 asks where.
• 천천히 말해 주세요cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo · Please speak slowlyA useful request when a conversation feels too fast.
• 다시 말해 주세요dasi malhae juseyo · Please say that again다시 means again.
• 한국어를 잘 못해요hangugeoreul jal motaeyo · I do not speak Korean wellA polite way to explain that you are still learning.

Practice polite requests for a table, ordering and paying. Point to the menu when needed, then listen for the staff member’s reply.

• 두 명이에요du myeongieyo · There are two of usSay this when the staff asks how many people are dining. 명 counts people.
• 메뉴판 주세요menyupan juseyo · The menu, please메뉴판 is a menu; 주세요 makes a polite request.
• 추천해 주세요chucheonhae juseyo · Please recommend somethingAsk for a recommendation while looking at the menu.
• 안 맵게 해 주세요an maepge hae juseyo · Please make it not spicyAsk before ordering; some dishes cannot be made less spicy.
• 고기 빼 주세요gogi ppae juseyo · Please leave out the meatThis asks to remove meat, but does not mean the broth or sauce is vegetarian.
• 포장해 주세요pojanghae juseyo · Please pack it to goUse this when requesting takeaway or asking to pack food.
• 계산해 주세요gyesanhae juseyo · The bill, pleaseAsk to pay; in many restaurants you pay at the counter.
• 맛있어요masisseoyo · It is deliciousA polite way to tell someone you enjoy the food.

Ask about stops, destinations and transfers. Replace the place name with your destination and check the route signs too.

• 지하철역이 어디예요?jihacheollyeogi eodiyeyo · Where is the subway station?지하철역 means subway station. 어디예요? asks where something is.
• 버스 정류장이 어디예요?beoseu jeongnyujangi eodiyeyo · Where is the bus stop?A 정류장 is a stop, while a 역 is a station.
• 서울역으로 가 주세요seoullyeogeuro ga juseyo · Please take me to Seoul StationUse with a taxi driver. Replace 서울역 with another destination.
• 이 버스 명동 가요?i beoseu myeongdong gayo · Does this bus go to Myeongdong?Ask before boarding. In conversation, 에 is often omitted after the destination.
• 어디에서 내려요?eodieseo naeryeoyo · Where should I get off?Mention your destination first so the listener knows which stop you need.
• 갈아타야 해요?garataya haeyo · Do I need to transfer?갈아타다 means to change from one vehicle or service to another.
• 여기서 내려 주세요yeogiseo naeryeo juseyo · Please let me off hereA request to a taxi driver; the driver still needs a safe place to stop.
• 표 한 장 주세요pyo han jang juseyo · One ticket, pleaseAt a ticket counter, specify the destination or service as well. 장 counts tickets.

Ask about colors, sizes and payment with polite everyday Korean. For returns, ask about the store’s policy rather than assuming a refund is available.

• 다른 색 있어요?dareun saek isseoyo · Do you have another color?Point to the item you mean. 다른 means other or different.
• 더 큰 사이즈 있어요?deo keun saijeu isseoyo · Do you have a larger size?For a smaller size, replace 큰 with 작은: 더 작은 사이즈 있어요?
• 입어 봐도 돼요?ibeo bwado dwaeyo · May I try it on?Ask permission before trying on clothing.
• 카드로 계산할 수 있어요?kadeuro gyesanhal su isseoyo · Can I pay by card?카드로 means by card. Ask before paying.
• 영수증 주세요yeongsujeung juseyo · A receipt, pleaseA useful request after payment.
• 봉투 주세요bongtu juseyo · A bag, pleaseA shopping bag may cost extra.
• 그냥 둘러볼게요geunyang dulleobolgeyo · I am just lookingA polite reply when a shop assistant offers help.
• 환불할 수 있어요?hwanbulhal su isseoyo · Can I get a refund?Ask about conditions such as the receipt, item condition and return period.

Recognize short expressions you may hear in Korean shows and everyday conversations. Check each note for speech level: casual lines suit close relationships where casual speech is welcome.

• 진짜요?jinjjayo · Really?Polite. 진짜? is the casual version; tone can express surprise or doubt.
• 괜찮아요gwaenchanayo · It is okay / I am okayPolite. Context can make this reassurance, a reply about your condition, or a gentle refusal.
• 왜요?waeyo · Why?Polite ending, but a sharp tone can sound confrontational. Ask gently.
• 지금 뭐 해요?jigeum mwo haeyo · What are you doing now?Polite everyday speech. 지금 뭐 해? is casual.
• 잠깐만요jamkkanmanyo · Just a moment, pleasePolite. You can also use it to get attention when passing through a crowd.
• 몰라요mollayo · I do not knowPolite ending. 잘 모르겠어요 is a softer way to say you are not sure.
• 대박!daebak · Wow! / That is amazing!Informal reaction. It can express surprise as well as excitement; avoid formal settings.
• 잘 자jal ja · Sleep well / Good nightCasual, for someone close. 안녕히 주무세요 is a respectful bedtime greeting.

Use these original example sentences to talk about yourself, interests and plans. Notice the sentence pattern explained on each card, then replace one word to make your own sentence.

• 저는 학생이에요jeoneun haksaengieyo · I am a student저는 introduces “I” politely. Use 이에요 after a noun ending in a consonant: 학생이에요.
• 저는 가수예요jeoneun gasuyeyo · I am a singerUse 예요 after a noun ending in a vowel: 가수예요. Compare 학생이에요.
• 한국어를 공부해요hangugeoreul gongbuhaeyo · I study Korean한국어를 marks what you study. 공부해요 is a polite present form of 공부하다.
• 음악을 좋아해요eumageul joahaeyo · I like music을/를 marks the object: 음악을 좋아해요, 드라마를 좋아해요.
• 한국에 가고 싶어요hanguge gago sipeoyo · I want to go to KoreaVerb stem + 고 싶어요 expresses a wish: 가다 → 가고 싶어요. 에 marks the destination here.
• 같이 볼까요?gachi bolkkayo · Shall we watch it together?In a viewing context, this invites someone to watch together. 보다 → 볼까요? makes a suggestion.
• 오늘 시간이 있어요oneul sigani isseoyo · I have time today있어요 expresses having time here. 시간이 없어요 means you do not have time.
• 내일 만나요naeil mannayo · See you tomorrow내일 means tomorrow. The present-style ending can refer to a future plan when the time is clear.

Yes. All 10 lessons, 84 cards, the Hangul builder and quizzes are free to use without an account. Ads help keep the tools available.

Start with the vowel and consonant lessons, then practice reading the short words. Try greetings alongside them so you can connect written Korean with useful expressions. You can revisit any lesson at any time.

Choose the Korea travel learning path for restaurant, transport and shopping phrases. Start with polite greetings if you are new to Korean, then practice asking for a menu, checking a destination and paying by card.

Speech level and context matter. The K-content path explains polite and casual expressions with original examples. Use casual speech in relationships where it is welcome; it can sound rude with strangers or in formal situations.

Listening uses a Korean voice supplied by your browser or operating system. If no Korean voice is available, the listening buttons stay disabled. Written lessons, the builder and quizzes still work.

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