전화하다
jeonhwahada[t͡ɕʌ̹nβwa̠ɦa̠da̠]
To say call in Korean, meaning to contact someone by phone, use 전화하다 (jeonhwahada).
전화하다 is used for telephone calls only. 전화 주세요 is a common way to say please call me.
Meaning: to contact by telephone (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
전화하다 is made of the noun 전화, meaning telephone and the verb 하다, meaning to do.
Which one should you use?
Calling out a name or summoning someone uses a different verb, 부르다. A call meaning a summons is 부름, and the call of a bird or animal is 울음.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
When calling a superior or a customer, use the humble formal form 전화드렸습니다, meaning I called, instead of the plain version. Among friends, 전화해 is a casual way to say call.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense is 전화했어요. The progressive form 전화하고 있어요 means someone is calling or is on the phone right now.
How do you pronounce it?
It is written in Latin letters as jeonhwahada.
Did you know?
- The word for a telephone call, 전화, is composed of Hanja characters that literally translate to 'electric speech'.
- While an English speaker might say 'I called you' to a boss, a Korean speaker must use the humble version 전화드렸습니다 to show proper respect to a superior.
- The specific nuance of 전화할게요 suggests a promise or a voluntary intention to call, rather than just a statement of future fact.
Examples in context
- 이따가 전화할게요.I'll call you later.전화할게요 means I will call, a polite promise to phone someone later.
- 저는 동료에게 전화해야 해요.I need to call my colleague.
- 그는 나중에 연락할 거예요.He will call you later.
- 도착하면 전화해.Call me when you arrive.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “call” translations and entries 전화하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 전화하다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
