Key Facts
- Hangul: 와이파이; Revised Romanization: waipai
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: loanword
- Register: Neutral; the English term is used as is.
WiFi in Korean: What Does 와이파이 Mean?
와이파이 is the English term borrowed whole and respelled in Hangul. Koreans use it as is, with no native replacement, so it is neutral and works in every setting from a cafe sign to a hotel desk. The related 공유기 is the router itself, and 데이터 is mobile data, which is what you use when there is no Wi-Fi.
How Do You Pronounce 와이파이?
The romanization is waipai. It has four syllables, wa-i-pa-i, each of about equal length.
Example Sentences with 와이파이
카페에 와이파이가 있어요.
Kape-e waipaiga isseoyo
The cafe has Wi-Fi.
A cafe sentence with 있어요 for existence. The subject particle 가 follows 와이파이, so the Wi-Fi is the thing that exists.
와이파이 비밀번호가 뭐예요?
Waipai bimilbeonhoga mwoyeyo
What is the Wi-Fi password?
The question you will ask in a cafe. 비밀번호 is the password, and 뭐예요 asks what it is.
집에서는 와이파이를 써요.
Jibeseoneun waipaireul sseoyo
I use Wi-Fi at home.
The topic particle 는 contrasts home with elsewhere, and 써요 means "use". The sentence says Wi-Fi is what you rely on at home.
Common Phrases with 와이파이
Four phrases cover most real situations: connecting, asking for the password, spotting free Wi-Fi, and saying that it works.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 와이파이에 연결하다 | to connect to Wi-Fi |
| 와이파이 비밀번호 | Wi-Fi password |
| 무료 와이파이 | free Wi-Fi |
| 와이파이가 되다 | Wi-Fi works / is available |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: squeezing the word into two English-style syllables, "why-fi".
Correct: four even syllables, wa-i-pa-i. Korean has no strong word stress, so give each syllable about the same length.
와이파이 Compared with Its Neighbours
Three related terms often appear next to 와이파이 in signs and conversation.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 인터넷 | internet | internet; Wi-Fi is the wireless way to access it |
| 데이터 | data; mobile data | mobile data |
| 공유기 | Wi-Fi router | router |
Where Does 와이파이 Come From?
와이파이 is a loanword from English, so it has no native or hanja roots.
At a Cafe: Getting Connected
A customer wants to use a laptop. A staff member explains where to find the password, then checks that the connection works.
Customer
와이파이 비밀번호가 뭐예요?
Waipai bimilbeonhoga mwoyeyo?
What is the Wi-Fi password?
Staff member
영수증에 있어요.
Yeongsujeunge isseoyo.
It is on the receipt.
Customer
와이파이가 안 돼요.
Waipaiga an dwaeyo.
The Wi-Fi is not working.
Staff member
다시 연결해 보세요.
Dasi yeongyeolhae boseyo.
Try connecting again.
영수증 is the receipt, and 에 points to where the password is printed. The customer's second line reports a problem without identifying its cause. The staff member suggests reconnecting; the dialogue does not assume that a new password or a different router is necessarily needed.
How Do You Describe a Wi-Fi Problem?
와이파이가 안 돼요 is a broad, everyday way to say the Wi-Fi is not working. It may mean the phone cannot join the network, or that websites will not load after joining. It tells staff that you need help, but it does not diagnose the connection. The noun stays the same; 안 돼요 supplies the negative meaning.
와이파이가 느려요 means “The Wi-Fi is slow”. Use it when you have a connection but loading takes too long. 와이파이가 자꾸 끊겨요 means “The Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting”. 자꾸 signals repetition, and 끊겨요 describes the interruption. These are more specific than simply saying that it does not work.
| Korean phrase | Meaning | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 와이파이를 켜다 | turn on Wi-Fi | Enable the device's Wi-Fi function. |
| 와이파이를 끄다 | turn off Wi-Fi | Disable that function. |
| 와이파이에 연결하다 | connect to Wi-Fi | Join a particular network. |
| 와이파이가 끊기다 | Wi-Fi disconnects | Describe a lost connection. |
Turning Wi-Fi on and connecting to a network are separate steps. The object marker 를 follows the function you switch on; 에 follows the network you connect to. Remembering the whole phrase helps you interpret both an instruction from staff and a phone's connection message.
Where Will You See 와이파이?
A cafe notice may label the network name and password together. Look for 와이파이 이름, “Wi-Fi name”, and 비밀번호, “password”. A network name identifies which option to choose from the available list; the password is what you enter after choosing it. The two strings can contain English letters or numbers even on a Korean notice.
무료 와이파이 means “free Wi-Fi”. 무료 describes the price, so it does not itself promise that there is no password or sign-in step. At a hotel desk, 와이파이 있어요? politely asks whether Wi-Fi is available. The noun is neutral; 있어요 supplies the polite question ending.
You may see Wi-Fi in English lettering in a device menu and hear 와이파이 in speech. They refer to the same technology. Learning the Hangul form helps when reading local signs or describing a problem aloud, while the familiar English label helps you find the relevant settings screen.
Related Technology Words
| Korean | Meaning | One useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 비밀번호 | password / PIN | Also used beyond Wi-Fi, including account access. |
| 연결 | connection | Look for this when joining a network. |
| 설정 | settings | The menu where connection options are often found. |
| 신호 | signal | Useful for discussing a weak connection. |
| 영수증 | receipt | A staff member may direct you here for a printed password. |
The technology vocabulary lesson teaches the wider set. Keep 인터넷 and 와이파이 distinct: a device can join the local Wi-Fi network while the router's internet connection is unavailable. That is why a Wi-Fi symbol alone does not guarantee that a website will open.
Quick Self-Test
- Which phrase reports slow Wi-Fi rather than no working connection?
- Does 무료 와이파이 necessarily mean there is no password?
- What does 영수증 mean in the dialogue?
Show answers
- 와이파이가 느려요.
- No. 무료 means “free of charge”.
- The receipt, where the password is printed in this scene.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "Wi-Fi" in Korean?
Say 와이파이 (waipai), the English word written in Hangul.
How do I ask for the Wi-Fi password?
Ask 와이파이 비밀번호가 뭐예요?, the second example sentence on this page.
What is a Wi-Fi router called?
It is 공유기, the box that shares one internet connection with your devices.
How do I say "free Wi-Fi"?
Use 무료 와이파이, one of the collocations listed above.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Technology vocabulary groups 와이파이 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add the word to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Related page: Technology in Korean.
- Related page: Internet in Korean.