What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 뭐라고 (mworago), meaning "what (as a quoted statement)" and 했어요 (haesseoyo), the polite past tense of "to do".
Which one should you use?
While 뭐라고 했어요? is the standard polite version, you can use 뭐라고 했어? for informal situations and 뭐라고 하셨어요? when you need to be highly respectful. For a more formal tone, you might use 무슨 말씀이신가요? or use 죄송하지만 다시 말씀해주실 수 있을까요? to apologize while asking for repetition. 다시 한 번 말씀해주시겠어요? is also a way to politely request that someone repeat themselves.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 뭐라고 했어요? is polite and suitable for use with strangers, colleagues or people older than you. For very high levels of respect, such as when speaking to much older people or those in much higher social positions, use the honorific version 뭐라고 하셨어요? In informal settings, such as with close friends or people younger than you, use 뭐라고 했어? or the friendly informal 뭐라고 했지? You can also use the very informal 뭐라고? to simply say "What?"
How does it change in a sentence?
A very common, slightly more casual way to ask someone to repeat themselves in polite conversation is to use the shortened form 뭐라고요?
How do you pronounce it?
mworago haesseoyo?
Did you know?
- While English speakers often use 'Sorry?' or 'Pardon?' to ask for repetition, Koreans frequently use 네?, which literally means 'Yes?', to signal they didn't hear something.
- If you use the highly respectful version 뭐라고 하셨어요? (mworago hasyeosseoyo?) with a close friend or someone younger, it may sound like you are being sarcastic or mocking them.
- In highly formal settings, Koreans may avoid asking 'what did you say?' and instead use a phrase that translates to 'I did not hear the words', shifting the 'fault' to themselves.
Examples in context
- 방금 뭐라고 했어요?bang-geum mwo-ra-go hae-sseo-yo?What did you just say?
- 잘 못 들었어요. 뭐라고 했어요?jal mot deu-reo-sseo-yo. mwo-ra-go hae-sseo-yo?I didn't hear you well. What did you say?
- 죄송하지만, 뭐라고 했어요?joe-song-ha-ji-man, mwo-ra-go hae-sseo-yo?I am sorry, but what did you say?
Example conversation
Minji and Jihun are in a noisy cafe.
- 민지 Min-ji지훈 씨, 뭐라고 했어요?Ji-hun ssi, mwo-ra-go hae-sseo-yo?Jihun, what did you say?
- 지훈 Ji-hun커피가 너무 맛있다고 했어요.Keo-pi-ga neo-mu ma-sit-da-go hae-sseo-yo.I said the coffee is very delicious.
- 민지 Min-ji아, 커피가 맛있다고 했군요.A, keo-pi-ga ma-sit-da-go hae-gun-yo.Ah, you said the coffee is delicious.
- 지훈 Ji-hun네, 정말 맛있어요.Ne, jeong-mal ma-si-sseo-yo.Yes, it is really delicious.
