한국어 알아요
hangugeo arayo
To say I know Korean in Korean, use 한국어 알아요 (hangugeo arayo).
한국어 알아요 says that you know the Korean language. To stress that you can actually speak it, say 한국어 할 줄 알아요, which means I know how to speak Korean.
What does it mean word for word?
한국어 (hangugeo) means the Korean language. It is made of 한국 (hanguk), meaning Korea and 어 (eo), meaning language. 알아요 (arayo) is the polite form of the verb to know.
Which one should you use?
한국어 할 줄 알아요 focuses on the skill of speaking the language, while 한국어 알아요 simply says you know it. To say you are good at Korean in a polite way, use 저는 한국어를 잘합니다. To say you know a little, use 한국어를 조금 알아. and to say you know a lot, use 한국어를 많이 알아.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
한국어 알아요 is in the polite style, which suits most daily social situations. With close friends you can say 나는 한국어 알아. or 난 한국어 할 줄 알아.
How does it change in a sentence?
In more careful or grammatically complete speech, the object marker 를 is added after the language name, giving 한국어를 알아요.
How do you pronounce it?
It is romanized as hangugeo arayo.
Did you know?
- While 한국어 is the name of the language, the writing system itself is called 한글 (hangeul). Many learners mistakenly use the word for the language when they actually mean they know how to read the alphabet.
- In South Korea, people often use the phrase 한국말 (hanguk-mal) instead of 한국어 (hangugeo) in casual conversation. 말 refers specifically to 'speech' or 'spoken words' rather than the formal study of the language.
- The Korean language has a unique 'honorific' system where the verb 알아요 changes based on who you are talking to. Using the wrong level of politeness can accidentally sound like you are talking down to a stranger or being too formal with a friend.
Example conversation
Two people meeting at a language exchange cafe.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo혹시 한국어 할 줄 아세요?hoksi hangugeo hal jul aseyo?By any chance, do you speak Korean?
- 지은 Ji-eun네, 저 한국어 알아요.ne, jeo hangugeo arayo.Yes, I know Korean.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo와, 정말 반가워요!wa, jeongmal bangawoyo!Wow, it's really nice to meet you!
- 지은 Ji-eun만나서 반가워요, 현우 씨.mannaseo bangawoyo, hyeonu ssi.Nice to meet you, Hyeonwoo.
