hello in korean
How to Say "Hello" in Korean (안녕하세요 / 안녕): Casual to Formal
안녕하세요
annyeonghaseyo
Quick answer
Say 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) in most situations and 안녕 (annyeong) only with close friends — both mean hello in Korean.
Common forms
| Register | Hangul | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| casual | 안녕 | annyeong | Close friends and younger people — also doubles as 'bye' in casual settings. |
| polite (standard) | 안녕하세요 | annyeonghaseyo | Safe for almost everyone you meet — strangers, coworkers, shopkeepers. |
| formal | 안녕하십니까 | annyeonghashimnikka | Very formal — news broadcasts, military settings, or respectful business contexts. |
| on the phone | 여보세요 | yeoboseyo | Used when answering or calling on the phone — never used as a general face-to-face greeting. |
How it changes by relationship
안녕!
Annyeong!
to a close friend: Light and breezy — the everyday casual hi.
안녕하세요!
Annyeonghaseyo!
to a teacher, boss, or elder: Always polite form with seniors and authority figures.
안녕하세요~
Annyeonghaseyo~
to a stranger in a shop: Standard; shop staff will almost always greet you with this.
여보세요?
Yeoboseyo?
answering the phone: Always used on the phone, no matter who's calling.
Examples
안녕하세요, 처음 뵙겠습니다!
Annyeonghaseyo, cheoeum boepgetsseumnida!
Hello, nice to meet you for the first time!
안녕! 오랜만이야!
Annyeong! Oraenmaniya!
Hey! Long time no see!
여보세요? 누구세요?
Yeoboseyo? Nuguseyo?
Hello? Who is this?
Usage note
안녕하세요 is used at any time of day — morning, afternoon, evening — unlike English where 'hello' might give way to 'good morning' or 'good evening.' There's no need to switch; 안녕하세요 always works.
Mini quiz
What is the primary Korean phrase for "hello" here?
FAQ
What's the difference between 안녕 and 안녕하세요?
안녕 is casual and used with close friends or younger people. 안녕하세요 is the polite default — safe for virtually anyone. See annyeong-vs-annyeonghaseyo.
Can I say 안녕하세요 to everyone?
Yes, 안녕하세요 is the all-purpose polite greeting. It works in the morning, evening, and with most people you'll encounter.
Is 여보세요 just for phones?
Yes — 여보세요 is strictly a phone greeting. Using it face-to-face sounds awkward.