여보세요
yeoboseyo[jʌ̹bo̞sʰe̞jo]
여보세요 (yeoboseyo) is the Korean way to say hello on the phone.
To introduce yourself, you can say 저는 [Your Name]인데요.
What does it mean word for word?
The root 여보 is an archaic way to get someone's attention or a term of endearment between spouses, which evolved into the telephone greeting.
Which one should you use?
While 안녕하세요 is the standard greeting for meeting someone face-to-face, 여보세요 is the specific greeting used for telephone calls.
Did you know?
- In very formal or professional settings, such as answering a business call, using 여보세요 can actually sound too casual or even rude. Professionals instead use titles or say 'Yes, this is [Company Name]'.
- The verb root 보- in the phrase is the same root found in 보다, meaning 'to see'. Even though you cannot see the person on the phone, you are asking them to 'see' or acknowledge your presence.
- Because 여보 is now a common term for 'honey' or 'darling' between married couples, using the full phone greeting 여보세요 to a spouse can sound jokingly formal or distant.
Examples in context
- 여보세요, 누구세요?yeoboseyo, nuguseyo?Hello, who is it?
- 여보세요, 거기 누구 있어요?yeoboseyo, geogi nugu isseoyo?Hello, is anyone there?
Example conversation
Minji calls Jihoon to ask a question.
- 지훈 Ji-hun여보세요?yeoboseyo?Hello?
- 민지 Min-ji지훈 씨, 저 민지예요.jihun ssi, jeo minji-yeyo.Jihoon, it's me, Minji.
- 지훈 Ji-hun아, 민지 씨 안녕하세요!a, minji ssi annyeonghaseyo!Oh, hello Minji!
- 민지 Min-ji지금 시간 괜찮으세요?jigeum sigan gwaenchaneuseyo?Do you have time right now?
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 여보세요, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
