야
ya[ja̠(ː)]
The Korean word for the informal greeting "hey" is 야 (ya).
야 is used as a casual way to greet someone or as a way to get someone's attention, much like "hey" is used in English.
Meaning: informal greeting (intj)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 야 is strictly informal. You should only use it with close friends or people who are younger than you. For a standard informal greeting that can be used both when meeting and parting, you can use 안녕. If you need to be formal, use 안녕하세요.
How do you pronounce it?
ya
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 야 when addressing strangers, elders or people in superior positions, as doing so is considered rude. In those contexts, you should use more polite language or honorifics (존댓말).
When do people say it?
When answering a telephone, rather than using a standard greeting, use 여보세요 to say "hello".
Did you know?
- The sound of 야 is an imitative expression, which shares a striking phonetic similarity to the Arabic word يَا used for calling someone.
- Using 야 with someone even one year older than you can be perceived as a serious insult in Korea.
- In Korean cinema and dramas, a character suddenly switching from formal language to 야 is a common trope used to signal a dramatic shift in power or intimacy.
Examples in context
- 야, 너! 이리 와 봐.Hey, you! Come here.This sentence shows how to use 야 to get someone's attention.Tatoeba #8729112 by Eunhee, translation #2592855 by WestofEden
- 야!Hey!This sentence shows a short, casual use of 야!Tatoeba #8533844 by Eunhee, translation #7531989 by shekitten
- 야.Hey.This sentence shows a calm, brief use of 야.Tatoeba #8533848 by Eunhee, translation #590217 by qdii
Example conversation
Two close friends run into each other at a cafe.
- 서연 Seo-yeon야, 지훈아!ya, ji-hun-a!Hey, Ji-hoon!
- 지훈 Ji-hun어, 서연아. 오랜만이야.eo, seo-yeon-a. o-raen-man-i-ya.Oh, Seo-yeon. It's been a long time.
- 서연 Seo-yeon잘 지냈어?jal ji-naess-eo?Have you been well?
- 지훈 Ji-hun응, 잘 지냈어.eung, jal ji-naess-eo.Yeah, I've been good.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 야, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 야, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
