여보세요
yeoboseyophone, everyday
On the phone, Koreans say 여보세요 (yeoboseyo) for "hello". It is used by both the person who answers and the person who calls.
여보세요 is only used on the phone. In person you say 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo). At work, people usually answer with the company name and then 입니다 (imnida).
Meaning: greeting when answering a phone call (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The word has the polite ending 세요 (seyo). It works with strangers and friends, and sounds neutral.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 여보세요 to call out to someone in the street. It sounds odd outside of calls.
Did you know?
- Korean also has a polite way to ask who is calling, 누구세요? (nuguseyo?), "who is it?"
Examples in context
- 여보세요? 누구세요?Yeoboseyo? Nuguseyo?Hello? Who is this?
- 여보세요, 저 민수예요.Yeoboseyo, jeo Minsuyeyo.Hello, this is Minsu.
Example conversation
Minsu phones his friend Jina on a weekday evening.
- Jina여보세요?Yeoboseyo?Hello?
- Minsu여보세요, 나 민수야.Yeoboseyo, na Minsuya.Hello, it is Minsu.
- Jina아, 민수야, 안녕!A, Minsuya, annyeong!Oh, Minsu, hi!
