여보세요
yeoboseyophone, everyday
When answering the phone in Korean, say 여보세요 (yeoboseyo). In business, many people pick up with the company name or 네, 감사합니다. It is also called 네, 여보세요 (ne, yeoboseyo).
Meaning: hello when answering the phone (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 여보세요 | yeoboseyo | phone, everyday |
| 네, 여보세요 | ne, yeoboseyo | polite |
At home or with friends, answer with 여보세요? and wait. At work, say the company name first, then 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) in a polite voice.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
여보세요 is fine for almost anyone, but with a caller you know to be a friend a short 응 (eung) or 어 (eo) is common.
Did you know?
- The word 여보세요 is thought to come from 여기 보세요 (yeogi boseyo), "look here", though its exact origin is debated.
Examples in context
- 여보세요? 누구세요?yeoboseyo? nuguseyo?Hello? Who is this?
- 네, 여보세요.ne, yeoboseyo.Yes, hello.
Example conversation
Mrs. Kang answers a call at home in Incheon from a Caller.
- Mrs. Kang여보세요?yeoboseyo?Hello?
- Caller안녕하세요, 민수 친구예요.annyeonghaseyo, minsu chinguyeyo.Hello, I am Minsu's friend.
- Mrs. Kang아, 잠깐만요.a, jamkkanmanyo.Oh, just a moment.
