전화를 걸다
jeonhwareul geolda
To phone (someone) in Korean is 전화를 걸다 (jeonhwareul geolda). Wiktionary also lists 전화하다 (jeonhwahada).
Meaning: to call (someone) on the telephone (verb)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 전화를 걸다 | jeonhwareul geolda | |
| 전화하다 | jeonhwahada | [t͡ɕʌ̹nβwa̠ɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The phrase is used when you want to express the act of calling someone on the telephone. You can use the noun 전화 alone to mean 'phone' or 'phone call' in many contexts.
Which one should you use?
전화를 걸다 emphasizes the specific action of initiating a call, such as dialing or making the call. In contrast, 전화하다 is a more general verb meaning 'to phone' or 'to be on the phone'.
How does it change in a sentence?
전화하다 is a compound verb created by combining the noun 전화 (telephone) with the verb 하다 (to do). When giving commands or requests, you can use the informal imperative 전화해 for 'call me' or the polite imperative 전화하세요 for 'please call'.
How do you pronounce it?
jeonhwareul geolda
Did you know?
- In modern slang, Koreans often use the word 전화 followed by 끊다 which means 'to cut'. This is the standard way to say 'hang up the phone'.
- The verb used in 전화를 걸다 is the same word used for 'hanging' or 'suspending' something, like a picture on a wall. It suggests the action of 'hanging' a call onto a line.
- While 'phone' is often used as a noun in English, the Korean word 전화 is a Sino-Korean compound. It combines the characters for 'electric' and 'speech' to literally mean 'electric speech'.
Examples in context
- 내 휴대전화 어디에 있어요?Where is my cell phone?
- 너 전화 좀 받아봐.Can you pick up the phone?
- 친구에게 전화를 걸다.chingu-ege jeonhwa-reul geolda.To call a friend.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “phone” translations and entries 전화하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 걸다, 전화하다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
