여보세요
yeoboseyophone, everyday
To say "hi" on a Korean phone call, use 여보세요 (yeoboseyo). With close friends, people often answer with a short 응 (eung) or 여보세요 and then 안녕 (annyeong).
Meaning: hi when answering or starting a phone call (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 여보세요 | yeoboseyo | phone, everyday |
| 안녕 | annyeong | casual |
| 응 | eung | casual, friends |
여보세요 fits any call, whether you know the person or not. Friends who see each other's name on the screen may skip it and go straight to 안녕.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
안녕 is only for friends and people younger than you. With anyone else, start with 여보세요 and add 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo).
Did you know?
- The word 여보세요 is a set phone greeting in Korean and is rarely used outside calls.
Examples in context
- 여보세요, 나야.yeoboseyo, naya.Hi, it is me.
- 응, 안녕. 무슨 일이야?eung, annyeong. museun iriya?Yeah, hi. What is up?
Example conversation
Sora calls her sister Hana in Busan.
- Hana여보세요?yeoboseyo?Hello?
- Sora안녕, 하나야. 지금 통화 돼?annyeong, hanaya. jigeum tonghwa dwae?Hi, Hana. Can you talk now?
- Hana응, 말해.eung, malhae.Yes, go ahead.
