Top 20 Hangul Words for Everyday Conversation
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Time to read 3 min
Learning Hangul words as a beginner gives you a strong foundation in Korean. Hangul, the Korean alphabet, is one of the most logical writing systems—once you learn the letters, example words become transparent. Knowing essential Hangul words helps you jump straight into real conversation.
Using Hangul words lets you pronounce things more accurately from the beginning. Unlike using romanization, Hangul guides you to native pronunciation. Everyday expressions learned in Hangul feel more natural and help you build Korean listening and speaking confidence quickly.
The Top 20 Hangul Words You Need
Here are 20 essential Hangul words grouped by category. Each includes Hangul, romanization, meaning, and practical tip.
Greetings and Polite Words
안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) – “Hello” (polite). Your go-to greeting in daily interactions.
감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) – “Thank you” (formal polite). Use this to express gratitude respectfully.
Essentials for Daily Use
네 (ne) – “Yes”. A simple affirmative; often used even for “okay”.
아니요 (aniyo) – “No”. A polite negation.
제발 (jebal) – “Please”. Use when making requests; common in casual and polite settings.
죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) – “I’m sorry” (formal/polite). For apologies.
This short video highlights 10 commonly used Hangul words. It’s a helpful quick-fire exposure right after you’ve learned the main list—great for repetition and reinforcement.
Food and Drink Words
물 (mul) – “Water”. Always useful!
밥 (bap) – “Rice” or “meal”. Common in everyday talk; “밥 먹었어요?” means “Have you eaten?”—an informal Korean greeting.
Numbers You’ll Use Daily
하나 (hana) – “One”. Basic counting.
둘 (dul) – “Two”. Also useful when ordering or pointing out amounts.
Everyday Conversation Helpers
어디 (eodi) – “Where”. Use for asking location or directions (“어디에요?” = “Where is it?”).
이름 (ireum) – “Name”. Useful in introductions (“이름이 뭐예요?” = “What is your name?”).
얼마예요? (eolmayeyo?) – “How much is it?”. Crucial for shopping or eating out.
화장실 (hwajangsil) – “Bathroom”. Very practical when you're out and about.
괜찮아요 (gwaenchanayo) – “It’s okay” or “I’m okay.” Good for reassurance.
사랑해요 (saranghaeyo) – “I love you.” Sweet and meaningful, used with close ones.
Time and Convenience Words
지금 (jigeum) – “Now”. Use to ask when something will happen (“지금 몇 시예요?” = “What time is it now?”).
오늘 (oneul) – “Today”. Great in everyday small talk.
내일 (naeil) – “Tomorrow”. Makes planning conversation easier.
끝 (kkeut) – “End” or “finished.” Useful for saying “that’s it” (“끝났어요” = “It’s finished”).
Usage Tips for These Hangul Words
Flashcards: Write Hangul on one side, romanization and meaning on the other. Reviewing everyday builds recall.
Speak aloud: Practice saying the words in short sentences. For example, “안녕하세요. 물 주세요.” (“Hello. Please give me water.”)
Use in context: Try asking locals or a language partner “얼마예요?” or saying “감사합니다” after small favors. Context reinforces.
Apps: Use apps like Duolingo or Memrise that use Hangul, helping you internalize proper characters.
Listening practice: Watch Korean dramas or vlogs with subtitles. Try to spot and recognize these 20 Hangul words as they come up.
If you want ready-made study tools to speed up your review, check out our VerbaCard Flashcards on Amazon. They’re designed to make vocabulary easier to remember with clear layouts and durable cards.
Additional Resources for Learners
Here are trusted resources where you can expand your Hangul vocabulary and everyday Korean skills:
How to Study Korean – Comprehensive lessons on Hangul, vocabulary, grammar, and daily expressions. A very learner-friendly site. How to Study Korean
Talk to Me in Korean (TTMIK) – Offers audio and text lessons from beginner to advanced. Their vocab lessons often use Hangul with context. TTMIK
Hangeul (Korean Alphabet) by Learn-Korean.net – Clear Hangul overview, with pronunciation guides and examples of common words. Learn-Korean.net
Drops App – Fun visual approach to essential Korean words and phrases, especially good for mobile flashcard practice. Drops
Your First Korean Toolkit
By mastering these Hangul words, you get more than vocabulary. You gain tools to converse, understand, and connect. Even twenty well-chosen words open doors: you can greet someone, ask simple questions, apologize, express thanks, chat about time, and more.
Think of this list as the first keys to everyday Korean life. Practice them in small bursts. Stick to Hangul as much as possible—that builds reading and listening fluency far faster than relying on romanization.
Every instance of using “안녕하세요,” “얼마예요,” or “밥” grounds the language in real life. Soon these Hangul words will feel less like new vocabulary and more like natural parts of your speech.
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