Korean · Vocabulary

Korean Vocabulary List
by category.

The fastest way to build Korean vocabulary is by category not random lists. Your brain groups related words together and recalls them faster. Here's every essential category with the words that actually come up in real life.

Greetings and Basics

These are the words you'll use in the first 30 seconds of any conversation. Know these cold.

안녕하세요
Annyeonghaseyo
Hello (formal)
안녕
Annyeong
Hi / Bye (casual)
감사합니다
Gamsahamnida
Thank you (formal)
고마워요
Gomawoyo
Thank you (casual)
미안해요
Mianhaeyo
Sorry
괜찮아요
Gwaenchanayo
It's okay
네
Ne
Yes
아니요
Aniyo
No
반갑습니다
Bangapseumnida
Nice to meet you
실례합니다
Sillyehamnida
Excuse me
잠깐만요
Jamkkanmanyo
Just a moment
모르겠어요
Moreugesseoyo
I don't know

Food and Eating

Korea is a food culture. These words come up at every meal, every market, every convenience store.

밥
Bap
Rice / Meal
물
Mul
Water
고기
Gogi
Meat
소고기
Sogogi
Beef
돼지고기
Dwaeji gogi
Pork
닭고기
Dak gogi
Chicken
김치
Kimchi
Kimchi
된장
Doenjang
Soybean paste
맵다
Maepda
Spicy
달다
Dalda
Sweet
짜다
Jjada
Salty
맛있어요
Masisseoyo
Delicious
음식
Eumsik
Food
식당
Sikdang
Restaurant
메뉴
Menyu
Menu
계산서
Gyesanseo
Bill / Check

Practice restaurant phrases with audio

Get the free Korean eating out kit 10 phrases with tap-to-play native audio.

Get the free kit →

Travel and Getting Around

Navigation, transport, and the words that get you from A to B without getting lost.

공항
Gonghang
Airport
역
Yeok
Station
지하철
Jihacheol
Subway
버스
Beoseu
Bus
택시
Taeksi
Taxi
호텔
Hotel
Hotel
화장실
Hwajangsil
Bathroom
왼쪽
Oenjjok
Left
오른쪽
Oreunjjok
Right
직진
Jikjin
Straight ahead
가까워요
Gakkawoyo
Close / Nearby
멀어요
Meoreoyo
Far

Shopping

얼마예요
Eolmayeyo
How much?
비싸요
Bissayo
Expensive
싸요
Ssayo
Cheap
할인
Harin
Discount
카드
Kadeu
Card
현금
Hyeongeum
Cash
영수증
Yeongseujeung
Receipt
교환
Gyohwan
Exchange
환불
Hwanbul
Refund
사이즈
Saiseu
Size
색깔
Saekkal
Color
포장
Pojang
Gift wrap / To go

Emotions and Feelings

행복해요
Haengbokhaeyo
Happy
슬퍼요
Seulpeoyo
Sad
화났어요
Hwanasseoyo
Angry
피곤해요
Pigonhaeyo
Tired
배고파요
Baegopayo
Hungry
무서워요
Museowoyo
Scared
재미있어요
Jaemiisseoyo
Fun / Interesting
좋아요
Joayo
I like it / Good
싫어요
Sireoyo
I don't like it
보고 싶어요
Bogo sipeoyo
I miss you
사랑해요
Saranghaeyo
I love you
걱정돼요
Geokjeongdwaeyo
I'm worried

Time and Days

지금
Jigeum
Now
오늘
Oneul
Today
내일
Naeil
Tomorrow
어제
Eoje
Yesterday
월요일
Woryoil
Monday
화요일
Hwayoil
Tuesday
수요일
Suyoil
Wednesday
목요일
Mogyoil
Thursday
금요일
Geumyoil
Friday
토요일
Toyoil
Saturday
일요일
Iryoil
Sunday
주말
Jumal
Weekend

Adverbs Describe Everything

These small words change the meaning of everything around them. Learn them early.

너무
Neomu
Too much / Very
정말
Jeongmal
Really / Truly
진짜
Jinjja
Really / For real
아주
Aju
Very
조금
Jogeum
A little
많이
Manhi
A lot / Many
빨리
Ppalli
Quickly / Hurry
천천히
Cheoncheonhi
Slowly
항상
Hangsang
Always
가끔
Gakkeum
Sometimes
갑자기
Kapjagi
Suddenly
다시
Dashi
Again
먼저
Meonjeo
First
마지막
Majimak
Last
같이
Gachi
Together
혼자
Honja
Alone

K-Drama Slang

The words K-drama fans know by heart finally with proper explanations.

대박
Daebak
Awesome / No way
화이팅
Hwaiting
You got this
아이고
Aigo
Oh my / Goodness
헐
Heol
No way / Wow
어떻게
Eotteoke
What do I do / How
왜
Wae
Why
됐어
Dwaesseo
Forget it / That's enough
진짜
Jinjja
Seriously / Really
내 거야
Nae geoya
You're mine
싫어
Sireo
I hate it / No
미쳤어
Michyeosseo
Are you crazy
알았어
Arasseo
Got it / Fine
How to use this list

Don't try to memorize everything at once. Pick one category that matches where you are right now traveling, watching K-dramas, or just starting out. Learn 10 words from that category this week. Add audio to every word you learn. Hearing beats reading every time.

Free Korean kit

Now hear these words spoken naturally

Get the free Korean greetings kit native audio you can tap and hear. The fastest way to go from reading vocabulary to actually speaking.

Get the free kit →

No credit card. No spam. Just phrases.