영어 할 수 있어요?
yeongeo hal su isseoyo?
To ask "can you speak english?" in Korean, you say 영어 할 수 있어요? (yeongeo hal su isseoyo?)
This phrase is used to inquire about a person's ability or capability to communicate in English.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 영어 (English) and 할 수 있어요 (can do/be able to).
Which one should you use?
For a more formal and respectful version, often used in professional settings or when addressing much older people, you can use 영어 하실 수 있나요? or 영어를 하실 수 있으세요?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 영어 할 수 있어요? uses the polite ending '-어요', making it appropriate for strangers or people you do not know well. For a more formal and respectful way to ask, use 영어를 하실 수 있으세요? or 영어 하실 수 있나요? If you are speaking to someone close to you in an informal setting, you can use 영어를 할 수 있어?
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form 영어 할 수 있어요? uses the polite ending '-어요'.
How do you pronounce it?
yeongeo hal su isseoyo?
Did you know?
- The word for English, 영어, uses the character 英 which also means 'hero' or 'brave' in many contexts.
- While 'can' is often translated as an ability, the word 수 in this phrase is actually derived from a Sino-Korean word meaning 'hand'.
- If you want to sound less like a textbook and more like a local, you can swap 수 for the native Korean word 줄 to express the same idea of skill.
Examples in context
- 영어 할 수 있어?Can you speak English?
- 네, 말할 수 있어.Yes, I can.
- 혹시 영어 할 수 있어요?hoksi yeong-eo hal su isseoyo?By any chance, can you speak English?
Example conversation
A traveler asks a local person for directions in Seoul.
- 지훈 Ji-hun저기요, 혹시 영어 할 수 있어요?jeogiyo, hoksi yeong-eo hal su isseoyo?Excuse me, can you speak English by any chance?
- 민지 Min-ji네, 조금 할 수 있어요.ne, jogeum hal su isseoyo.Yes, I can speak a little.
- 지훈 Ji-hun정말 감사합니다!jeongmal gamsahamnida!Thank you so much!
- 민지 Min-ji아니에요, 무엇을 도와드릴까요?anieyo, mueoseul dowa-deurilkkayo?No problem, how can I help you?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 수, 영어, 할, CC BY-SA 4.0.
