영어로 말해요
yeong-eoro malhaeyo
To speak in English in Korean is 영어로 말해요 (yeong-eoro malhaeyo).
This phrase is used to express the act of using the English language when communicating or talking.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 영어로 (yeong-eoro), which combines 영어 (English) with the particle 로 (ro) to indicate the means or instrument being used and 말해요 (malhaeyo), which is the polite form of the verb meaning to speak or to say.
Which one should you use?
Other formal variations include 영어로 말씀해주세요 (please speak in English) and 영어로 이야기해주십시오 (please talk in English).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase 영어로 말해요 uses the polite ending -해요, making it suitable for general social situations with people you are not intimate with. To transform the phrase into a polite request, use the construction 영어로 말해 주세요.
How do you pronounce it?
yeong-eoro malhaeyo
Did you know?
- In Korean, the English language is treated like a physical tool or a piece of equipment. The particle 로 in 영어로 marks English as the instrument you are wielding to communicate, much like saying 'with a hammer'.
- When asking a stranger to speak English, Koreans often use a 'softening' phrase like 저기요 (jeogiyo) first, which is similar to 'excuse me' but functions as a social lubricant to avoid appearing demanding.
- The choice of verb for 'to speak' changes entirely based on the person you are addressing. While you might use 말해요 with a stranger, you would switch to the honorific 말씀하시다 to show respect to someone of higher social status.
Examples in context
- 국제 회의 중에는 영어로 말씀해주세요.Please speak in English during the international conference.
- 여기서는 영어로 말해요.yeogiseoneun yeong-eoro malhaeyo.We speak in English here.
- 선생님은 영어로 말해요.seonsaengnimeun yeong-eoro malhaeyo.The teacher speaks in English.
- 수업 시간에는 영어로 말해요.su-eop sigan-eneun yeong-eoro malhaeyo.We speak in English during class time.
Example conversation
Minjun and Jieun are practicing a language exchange.
- 민준 Min-jun지은 씨, 우리 영어로 말해요.jieun ssi, uri yeongeoro malhaeyo.Jieun, let's speak in English.
- 지은 Ji-eun좋아요. 지금부터 시작해요.joayo. jigeumbuteo sijakhaeyo.Okay. Let's start now.
- 민준 Min-jun어려우면 한국어로 해도 돼요.eoryeoumyeon hangugeoro haedo dwaeyo.If it's hard, you can speak in Korean.
- 지은 Ji-eun아니요, 계속 영어로 할게요.aniyo, gyesok yeongeoro halgeyo.No, I will keep speaking in English.
