Key Facts
- Hangul: 한국어; Revised Romanization: hangugeo
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 韓國語 (韓 Korea + 國 country + 語 language)
- Register: neutral, standard word; 한국말 is a more colloquial equivalent
Korean in Korean: What Does 한국어 Mean?
한국어 means the Korean language. It is built from the country name 한국 plus 어, "language", the same pattern as most other language names. 한국말 means the same thing but sounds more conversational. In Korean schools, the subject "Korean" is called 국어, "the national language".
How Do You Pronounce 한국어?
Three syllables, han-gu-geo. The ㄱ at the end of 국 moves over to start the last syllable, because the next syllable begins with a vowel. So you hear [han-gu-geo], not [han-guk-eo], and the romanization hangugeo follows that sound.
Example Sentences with 한국어
한국어를 배워요.
Hangugeoreul baewoyo
I am learning Korean.
배워요 means "learn", so this is the classic learner's line.
한국어 수업은 재미있어요.
Hangugeo sueobeun jaemiisseoyo
Korean class is fun.
수업 is "class" and 재미있어요 means "is fun".
한국어로 말해 주세요.
Hangugeoro malhae juseyo
Please speak in Korean.
한국어로 means "in Korean": 로 marks the language you use. 말해 주세요 means "please speak".
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 한국어 공부 | studying Korean |
| 한국어를 하다 | to speak Korean |
| 한국어 선생님 | Korean teacher |
| 한국어로 | in Korean |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: calling the Korean language 한글, as in "I study 한글" when you mean the whole language.
Correct: the language is 한국어, and 한글 is the alphabet you write it in. You learn 한국어, and you read and write it in 한글.
한국어 Compared with Similar Words
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 한국어 | Korean (language) | This page's word: the standard term |
| 한국말 | Korean (spoken) | A colloquial equivalent, common in speech |
| 한글 | Hangul (alphabet) | The writing system, not the language |
| 국어 | national language | The name of the Korean-language school subject for Koreans |
Where Does the Word Come From?
한국어 is the Korean reading of 韓國語: 韓 (Korea), 國 (country) and 語 (language).
Cultural Note
Hangul, the Korean alphabet, was created under King Sejong and promulgated in 1446. South Korea celebrates Hangul Day (한글날) on October 9.
Choosing a Language at a Language Exchange
A learner meets a new conversation partner. They agree to use Korean, then ask for a slower pace.
Mina
한국어로 이야기할까요?
Hangugeoro iyagihalkkayo?
Shall we talk in Korean?
Sam
네. 저는 한국어를 조금 해요.
Ne. Jeoneun hangugeoreul jogeum haeyo.
Yes. I speak a little Korean.
Mina
좋아요. 천천히 말할게요.
Joayo. Cheoncheonhi malhalgeyo.
Good. I’ll speak slowly.
Sam
감사합니다. 한국어로 연습하고 싶어요.
Gamsahamnida. Hangugeoro yeonseupago sipeoyo.
Thank you. I want to practise in Korean.
한국어를 조금 해요 describes a little speaking ability. 조금 softens the claim, so the speaker can join the conversation without suggesting fluency. 한국어로 in the first and last lines names the language used for the activity. The same noun takes different particles because its job changes.
Where Will You See 한국어?
On a website’s language menu, 한국어 labels the Korean version. Selecting it changes the language of the interface; it is not a button for learning the alphabet. On a class notice, 한국어 수업 names a Korean-language lesson. At a language school, 한국어 선생님 means a teacher of Korean, regardless of that teacher’s nationality.
한국어 is suitable in emails, applications and everyday conversation. 한국말 also works in friendly talk. Neither noun makes a sentence polite by itself: the endings around it do that work. The dialogue uses polite endings because the partners have just met.
Useful Combinations beyond the Translation
한국어 공부 literally combines “Korean language” and “study”. It can label your study activity or appear in a notebook heading. 한국어를 공부하다 adds the object marker and the verb, making “to study Korean”. Keep the space before 공부; it is a separate word.
한국어를 하다 literally looks like “do Korean”, but commonly means to speak the language. It describes ability or language use, rather than one particular utterance. 한국어로 말하다 means to speak in Korean and draws attention to the language chosen. If someone changes from English to Korean, the 로 phrase is especially useful.
한국어 선생님 identifies what someone teaches. For a teacher who happens to be Korean, 한국인 선생님 expresses nationality. This distinction matters when you introduce a teacher: teaching Korean and being Korean are different pieces of information.
Words for a Language Exchange
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 영어 | English | Another language name that takes 로 for “in English”. |
| 일본어 | Japanese | Shares the language ending 어 with 한국어. |
| 한국인 | Korean person | Refers to a person’s nationality. |
| 외국어 | foreign language | A category that depends on the speaker’s perspective. |
The nationalities and languages lesson groups people and language names so you can introduce both your background and the languages you use. Notice that 한국어 names a language; it cannot stand alone as the noun for a Korean person.
Saying What You Understand
한국어를 이해하다 means to understand Korean. 이해하다 focuses on comprehension, while the existing phrase 한국어를 하다 usually concerns speaking or using it. Someone can understand a conversation more easily than they can join it. This distinction lets you explain your ability without making an all-or-nothing claim about knowing the language.
한국어 발음 means Korean pronunciation. The language name comes first, just as it does in 한국어 공부. If you ask about pronunciation, you are narrowing the topic to sounds; if you ask about 한글, you are asking about the written system.
Quick Self-Test
- Which phrase means “in Korean”: 한국어를 or 한국어로?
- What does 한국어를 조금 해요 tell a conversation partner?
- Does 한국어 선생님 tell you the teacher’s nationality?
Show answers
- 한국어로. 로 marks the language used.
- That you speak a little Korean.
- No. It means a teacher of Korean; 한국인 identifies a Korean person.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "Korean language" in Korean?
Say 한국어 (hangugeo).
What is 한국말?
한국말 is a colloquial word for the Korean language, common in everyday speech.
Is 한국어 the same as 한글?
No. 한국어 is the language, and 한글 is its alphabet.
How do you say "in Korean"?
Say 한국어로.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: nationalities and languages vocabulary groups 한국어 with other language names.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- The alphabet: Hangul in Korean.
- The school subject: 국어.