🇰🇷 Korean phrases

How to Say "Hi" in Korean

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
안녕하세요
"Hi" in Korean · say it like ahn-nyung-ha-se-yo

The most natural way to say "Hi" in Korean is 안녕하세요. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

안녕
Used in casual settings among friends
안녕하십니까
Very formal, often used in speeches

When to use it

Use '안녕하세요' when greeting someone in a polite manner. It is suitable for most situations, including meeting new people or addressing someone older. For casual situations, you can use '안녕'.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "Hi" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Korean

KoreanEnglish
안녕하세요, 만나서 반갑습니다.Hello, nice to meet you.
Common mistake
Some learners might use '안녕' in formal situations, which is inappropriate.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear 안녕하세요, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Korean with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

When should I use '안녕' instead of '안녕하세요'?

'안녕' is used among friends or people of the same age, while '안녕하세요' is more polite.

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