Keep the 요
Polite Korean ends in -요: 감사해요, 맛있어요. Dropping it is for close friends, so when in doubt, keep it.
Korean course · 27 languages in one app
Learn Korean by speaking it
Reading hangul takes a few days. Speaking takes practice. Talvo gives you both: Korean in hangul with romanization alongside, and a tutor that waits for you to answer out loud.
First lesson free · iPhone and Mac, one subscription
Your first Korean phrases
Twelve polite phrases for shops, cafés and meeting people. The -요 and -니다 endings keep them polite with anyone.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕하세요 | annyeonghaseyo | Hello |
| 감사합니다 | gamsahamnida | Thank you |
| 네 / 아니요 | ne / aniyo | Yes / No |
| 만나서 반가워요 | mannaseo bangawoyo | Nice to meet you |
| 죄송합니다 | joesonghamnida | I'm sorry |
| 저기요 | jeogiyo | Excuse me (to call staff) |
| 이거 주세요 | igeo juseyo | This one, please |
| 얼마예요? | eolmayeyo? | How much is it? |
| 화장실이 어디예요? | hwajangsiri eodiyeyo? | Where's the restroom? |
| 영어 할 수 있어요? | yeongeo hal su isseoyo? | Can you speak English? |
| 이해가 안 돼요 | ihaega an dwaeyo | I don't understand |
| 천천히 말해 주세요 | cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo | Please speak slowly |
Romanization here follows the official Revised Romanization of Korean, the same system you'll see on street signs in Seoul.
A conversation you'll practice
Ordering at a café in Seoul. The tutor plays the barista, and you answer out loud in polite Korean.
Barista어서 오세요! 주문하시겠어요?eoseo oseyo! jumunhasigesseoyo?Welcome! Are you ready to order?
You아이스 아메리카노 한 잔 주세요.aiseu amerikano han jan juseyo.One iced americano, please.
Barista사이즈는 어떻게 해 드릴까요?saijeuneun eotteoke hae deurilkkayo?What size would you like?
You큰 사이즈로 주세요.keun saijeuro juseyo.A large one, please.
Barista네, 5,000원입니다.ne, ocheon wonimnida.OK, that's 5,000 won.
Mistakes Talvo helps you fix
Sounds carry over
A final consonant often moves to the next syllable: 맛있어요 is said ma-shi-sseo-yo, and 화장실이 is hwa-jang-shi-ri.
Two sets of numbers
Native Korean numbers count things and hours: 한 잔 (one cup), 두 시 (two o'clock). Sino-Korean numbers are for money and minutes: 오천 원 (5,000 won).
Romanization is accepted
While you learn hangul, you can type answers in romanization and Talvo still checks the meaning.
How Talvo teaches Korean
- Every phrase shows hangul, romanization and a pronunciation guide, with audio
- Every unit, from beginner (A1) to advanced (C1), is written around your interests and the words you already know
- Role-play a café, a market, a taxi or meeting someone new. The tutor speaks first, waits for your answer and corrects you with the reason
- Use the live interpreter when you're talking with a native speaker for real
- Every new word goes into your review deck and comes back right before you'd forget it
Questions about learning Korean
Do I need to learn hangul first?
No. Every phrase shows hangul with romanization alongside. Hangul is quick to learn, and you'll pick it up as you go.
Can I learn Korean with Talvo for free?
Yes, to start. Your first lesson, three live-interpreter exchanges, your reviews and your deck are free. Talvo Pro unlocks unlimited lessons and conversations, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial.
How is Talvo different from Duolingo?
Duolingo is built around short tap-and-match exercises and daily streaks. Talvo is built around speaking: lessons written around your interests, a tutor you talk to out loud, and a live interpreter for real conversations. Plenty of learners use both.
Can I use Talvo on my Mac?
Yes. Talvo is a native app for iPhone and Mac, and one subscription covers both.
More language guides
Say your first Korean sentence today.
The first lesson is free. It takes about five minutes.