Want to speak Korean fast? Learning the most common Korean words is the key! π
If you’re just starting, memorizing high-frequency words will help you understand daily conversations and build sentences easily.
In this post, youβll learn 70 essential Korean words with pronunciation and English meanings. Save this list and start practicing today!
π Understanding Korean Vocabulary
β Korean words are categorized into nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
β Many common words come from Sino-Korean (νμ), while others are pure Korean words.
β Learning the most frequently used words will boost your fluency faster.
Now, letβs dive into the 70 most essential Korean words! π
π€ 70 Most Common Korean Words
π Basic Nouns (People & Pronouns)
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| λ / μ | na / jeo | I, me |
| λ / λΉμ | neo / dangsin | You |
| μ°λ¦¬ | uri | We, us |
| κ·Έ | geu | He |
| κ·Έλ | geunyeo | She |
| μ¬λ | saram | Person |
| μΉκ΅¬ | chingu | Friend |
| κ°μ‘± | gajok | Family |
| λ¨μ | namja | Man |
| μ¬μ | yeoja | Woman |
π Common Nouns (Objects & Places)
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| μ§ | jip | House, home |
| νκ΅ | hakgyo | School |
| νμ¬ | hoesa | Company |
| λ³μ | byeongwon | Hospital |
| κ°κ² | gage | Store, shop |
| μ°¨ | cha | Car, tea |
| μ± | chaek | Book |
| λ¬Έ | mun | Door |
| μ°½λ¬Έ | changmun | Window |
| μ ν | jeonhwa | Phone |
π°οΈ Time Words
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| μ€λ | oneul | Today |
| μ΄μ | eoje | Yesterday |
| λ΄μΌ | naeil | Tomorrow |
| μ§κΈ | jigeum | Now |
| μκ° | sigan | Time |
| λ | nyeon | Year |
| μ | wol | Month |
| μΌ | il | Day |
| μμΉ¨ | achim | Morning |
| λ°€ | bam | Night |
π£ Essential Verbs
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| κ°λ€ | gada | To go |
| μ€λ€ | oda | To come |
| λ¨Ήλ€ | meokda | To eat |
| λ§μλ€ | masida | To drink |
| λ³΄λ€ | boda | To see, watch |
| λ£λ€ | deutda | To listen |
| λ§νλ€ | malhada | To speak |
| μ°λ€ | sseuda | To write |
| λ°°μ°λ€ | baeuda | To learn |
| μ΄λ€ | salda | To live |
π Common Adjectives
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ν¬λ€ | keuda | Big |
| μλ€ | jakda | Small |
| λ§λ€ | manhta | Many, a lot |
| μ λ€ | jeokda | Few |
| κΈΈλ€ | gilda | Long |
| μ§§λ€ | jjalda | Short |
| λΉ λ₯΄λ€ | ppareuda | Fast |
| λλ¦¬λ€ | neurida | Slow |
| μ’λ€ | jota | Good |
| λμλ€ | nappeuda | Bad |
π‘ Useful Adverbs & Question Words
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| λ§μ΄ | mani | A lot |
| μ‘°κΈ | jogeum | A little |
| μμ£Ό | aju | Very |
| 빨리 | ppalli | Quickly |
| μ²μ²ν | cheoncheonhi | Slowly |
| νμ | hangsang | Always |
| μμ£Ό | jaju | Often |
| κ°λ | gakkeum | Sometimes |
| μ | wae | Why? |
| μ΄λ»κ² | eotteoke | How? |
π’ Numbers (Sino-Korean & Native Korean)
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| νλ (μΌ) | hana (il) | One |
| λ (μ΄) | dul (i) | Two |
| μ (μΌ) | set (sam) | Three |
| λ· (μ¬) | net (sa) | Four |
| λ€μ― (μ€) | daseot (o) | Five |
| μ¬μ― (μ‘) | yeoseot (yuk) | Six |
| μΌκ³± (μΉ ) | ilgop (chil) | Seven |
| μ¬λ (ν) | yeodeol (pal) | Eight |
| μν (ꡬ) | ahop (gu) | Nine |
| μ΄ (μ) | yeol (sip) | Ten |
π― Practice Time!
Test your knowledge by answering these questions in the comments:
1οΈβ£ What is the Korean word for “friend”? π¬
2οΈβ£ How do you say “to eat” in Korean? π½οΈ
3οΈβ£ Whatβs the word for “today” in Korean? π
Comment your answers below! π
π₯ Want to Learn More Korean?
Expand your vocabulary with these lessons:
πΉ 50+ Common Korean Verbs πββοΈ
πΉ Korean Numbers & Counting System π’
πΉ 50 Essential Korean Adjectives π¨
Do you need personalized Korean lessons? π Click here to book a session! π
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