Korean vocabulary: elementary (A2)
The 166 words and phrases taught in the elementary chapters, in the order the course teaches them. Press ▶ to hear each one.
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1. Talking about the past
From chapter 1: learn these words in context
- 주말jumalweekend · (jumare), at the weekend
- 뭐 했어요?Mwo haesseoyo?what did you do? · (mwo), what, is the everyday form of (mueot).
- 같이gachitogether · (chinguhago gachi), together with a friend
- 영화yeonghwafilm, movie
- 봤어요bwasseoyosaw, watched · past of (boda), to see, to watch
- 어땠어요?Eottaesseoyo?how was it? · past of (eottaeyo?), how is it? Learn it as a word for now.
- 재미있었어요jaemiisseosseoyoit was fun, it was interesting · past of (jaemiisseoyo); the opposite is (jaemieopseosseoyo), it was boring
- 한강Hangangthe Han River · the river through Seoul, with parks and bike paths along both banks
- 자전거jajeongeobicycle
- 타다tadato ride, to take (a bike, bus, train) · The thing you ride takes 을 / 를: (jajeongeoreul tayo), I ride a bike.
- 지난jinanlast, past · (jinan jumal), last weekend; written together in (jinanju), last week, and (jinandal), last month
- 김밥gimbapkimbap, rice and fillings rolled in seaweed
- 만들다mandeuldato make · (mandeureoyo), (mandeureosseoyo)
- 피곤했어요pigonhaesseoyoI was tired · past of (pigonhaeyo), from (pigonhada), to be tired
2. Travel and hotels
From chapter 2: learn these words in context
- 체크인chekeuincheck-in · (chekeuinhada), to check in
- 예약하다yeyakhadato book, to reserve · (ireumeuro yeyakhaesseoyo), I booked under the name …
- 박baknight (of a stay) · counter for nights, with Sino-Korean numbers: (ibak), two nights
- 신분증sinbunjeungID card · Foreign guests show their (yeogwon), passport.
- 조식josikbreakfast (in a hotel) · the word hotels use; at home, breakfast is (achim)
- 몇 시부터myeot sibuteofrom what time · (myeot sikkaji), until what time
- 체크아웃chekeuautcheck-out
- 프런트peureonteufront desk, reception
- 에어컨eeokeonair conditioner, air conditioning · from English “air con”
- 고장 났어요gojang nasseoyoit's broken, it's out of order · for machines: (eeokeoni gojang nasseoyo)
- 바꾸다bakkudato change, to exchange · (bakkwoyo), (bakkwosseoyo)
- 수건sugeontowel
- 도와주세요dowajuseyoplease help me · from (dopda), to help, + (juseyo)
- 짐jimluggage, bags · (jim jom deureo jusigesseoyo?), could you carry my bags?
3. At the doctor's
From chapter 3: learn these words in context
- 어디가 아프세요?Eodiga apeuseyo?where does it hurt? what's the problem? · the doctor's first question; (apeuda), to hurt, to be ill
- 목mokthroat; neck · (mogi apayo), I have a sore throat
- 머리meorihead · (meoriga apayo), I have a headache
- 언제부터eonjebuteosince when · (eonje), when, + (buteo), from; answer with
- 열yeolfever, temperature · (yeori isseoyo), I have a temperature. Also the number ten.
- 기침gichimcough · (gichimeul haeyo), I cough, I have a cough
- 감기gamgicold (illness) · (gamgie geollyeosseoyo), I've caught a cold
- 푹puk(rest, sleep) well, deeply · (puk swiseyo), get plenty of rest
- 쉬다swidato rest · (swieoyo), (swieosseoyo), (swiseyo)
- 물mulwater · (ttatteutan mul), warm water
- 약yakmedicine · (yageul meogeoyo), I take medicine; (yakguk), pharmacy
- 하루에haruea day, per day · (haru), one day, + 에 (per): (harue se beon), three times a day
- 식후sikhuafter meals · (sikjeon), before meals
- 빨리 나으세요ppalli naeuseyoget well soon · (ppalli), fast, soon; (natda), to get better, drops its ㅅ before a vowel: (naayo)
4. Home and housing
From chapter 4: learn these words in context
- 부동산budongsanestate agent's; property · (budongsane gayo), I'm going to the estate agent's
- 월세wolsemonthly rent · (wolse osimman won), 500,000 won a month
- 보증금bojeunggeumdeposit · You get it back when you move out.
- 관리비gwallibimaintenance fee · a monthly fee for the building: cleaning, the lift, sometimes water and heating
- 넓다neoldato be spacious, big (of rooms and places) · (neolbeoyo); (keuda) is big in size, is big in space
- 밝다bakdato be bright, light · (balgayo), (balgeun bang), a bright room
- 가깝다gakkapdato be close, near · (yeogeseo gakkawoyo), it's close to the station; 에서 means from
- 층cheungfloor, storey · with Sino-Korean numbers: (chil cheung), the seventh floor; (myeot cheungieyo?), which floor?
- 동네dongneneighbourhood
- 제일jeilthe most · (gajang) means the same.
- 조용하다joyonghadato be quiet · (joyonghaeyo), (joyonghan dongne)
- 보다bodathan · after the thing you compare with: (geu jipboda), than that flat
- 좁다jopdato be small, cramped (of rooms); narrow · the opposite of (neolda); (jobayo)
- 전세jeonserenting with a large deposit and no monthly rent · a Korean system; see the tip below
5. Work and studies
From chapter 5: learn these words in context
- 입니다imnidaam, is, are (formal) · the formal form of / : (Kim Dohyeonimnida), I'm Kim Dohyeon
- 신입 사원sinip sawonnew employee · (sawon), employee, member of staff
- 대학교daehakgyouniversity · (daehaksaeng), university student; (hakgyo), school
- 졸업하다joreophadato graduate · (daehakgyoreul joreophaesseoyo), I graduated from university
- 팀timteam · (timjangnim), team leader; staff say it instead of “you” when speaking to her
- 개발자gaebalja(software) developer
- 열심히yeolsimhihard, with effort · (yeolsimhi hagetseumnida), I'll do my best
- 잘 부탁드립니다jal butakdeurimnidaI look forward to working with you · said when you start a job or meet people you'll work with; literally, I ask you to treat me well
- 전공jeongongmajor, subject (at university) · (keompyuteo gonghak), computer engineering
- 전에jeonebefore, in the past · (geu jeoneneun), before that; (sam nyeon jeone), three years ago
- 동안donganfor (a length of time) · (i nyeon dongan), for two years
- 때ttaetime, when · (daehaksaeng ttae), when I was a student; (geuttae), then, back then
- 됐어요dwaesseoyoit has been (with a length of time) · past of (doeda), to become: (chil nyeon dwaesseoyo), it's been seven years
- 야근yageunworking late, overtime · (yageuneul haeyo), I work late
6. Weather and seasons
From chapter 6: learn these words in context
- 날씨nalssiweather · (nalssiga eottaeyo?), what's the weather like?
- 겨울gyeoulwinter · (gyeoure), in winter
- 춥다chupdato be cold (weather) · an ㅂ verb: (chuwoyo), (chuul geoyeyo)
- 영하yeonghabelow zero · (yeongha o do), minus five degrees; (do), degrees
- 눈nunsnow · (nuni wayo), it's snowing. also means eye.
- 바람baramwind · (barami mani bureoyo), it's very windy
- 봄bomspring
- 가을gaeulautumn, fall
- 맑다makdato be sunny, clear · (malgayo), (malgo)
- 여름yeoreumsummer
- 덥다deopdato be hot (weather) · an ㅂ verb: (deowoyo), (deoul geoyeyo)
- 장마jangmathe summer rainy season · usually from late June to late July
- 비birain · (biga wayo), it's raining
- 우산usanumbrella
7. Clothes and shopping
From chapter 7: learn these words in context
- 뭐 찾으세요?Mwo chajeuseyo?what are you looking for? can I help you? · what shop staff say when you come in
- 찾다chatdato look for; to find · (chajayo), (chatgo isseoyo)
- 셔츠syeocheushirt
- 환불hwanbulrefund · (hwanbulhal su isseoyo?), can I get a refund?
- 교환gyohwanexchange · (gyohwanhago sipeoyo), I'd like to exchange it
- 만manonly · after a noun: (gyohwanman), only exchanges
- 사이즈saijeusize · (keun saijeu), a bigger size; (jageun saijeu), a smaller size
- 다른dareunother, another, different · always before a noun: (dareun saek)
- 색saekcolour
- 까만색kkamansaekblack · (geomeunsaek) also means black.
- 입다ipdato put on, to wear (clothes) · (ibeoyo), (ibeosseoyo)
- 입어 보다ibeo bodato try on · (ibeo bwado dwaeyo?), may I try it on?
- 탈의실taruisilfitting room
- 어울리다eoullidato suit, to look good on · (jal eoullyeoyo), it suits you
8. Plans and invitations
From chapter 8: learn these words in context
- 뭐 해?Mwo hae?what are you doing? what are you up to? · a casual way to start a call or a chat
- 시간 있어?Sigan isseo?are you free? (casual) · (sigan), time; polite: (sigan isseoyo?)
- 보자bojalet's watch; let's meet · (boda) + -자; (ittaga boja), see you later
- 영화관yeonghwagwancinema, movie theater
- 어때?Eottae?how about…? how is it? (casual) · polite: (eottaeyo?)
- 미안해mianhaesorry (casual) · polite: (mianhaeyo); formal: (joesonghamnida)
- 약속yaksokplans, an appointment (to meet someone); a promise · (yaksogi isseoyo), I've got plans
- 그럼geureomthen, in that case · at the start of a reply
- 표pyoticket
- 예매하다yemaehadato book (tickets) in advance · for tickets; for hotels and restaurants, (yeyakhada)
- 진짜jinjjareally · more casual than (jeongmal)
- 괜찮아gwaenchanait's OK, that's fine (casual) · polite: (gwaenchanayo)
- 고마워gomawothanks (casual) · polite: (gomawoyo); formal: (gomapseumnida)
- 이따가ittagalater (today) · (ittaga boja), see you later
9. Directions and transport
From chapter 9: learn these words in context
- 어떻게eotteokehow · (eotteoke gayo?), how do I get there?
- 호선hoseon(subway) line · with Sino-Korean numbers, usually written in digits: (ihoseon), Line 2
- 갈아타다garatadato change (trains, buses) · (ihoseoneuro garatayo), I change to Line 2
- 걸리다geollidato take (time) · (samsip bunjjeum geollyeoyo), it takes about thirty minutes
- 교통카드gyotongkadeutransport card · one card for the subway and buses
- 충전하다chungjeonhadato top up; to charge (a phone)
- 방향banghyangdirection · (Oido banghyang), towards Oido; platforms are signed by the last stop of the line
- 막차makchathe last train or bus · the first one is (cheotcha)
- 늦다neutdato be late · (neutji maseyo), don't be late; (neujeosseoyo), I'm late
- 이번 역ibeon yeokthis stop, the stop we're arriving at · (daeum yeok), the next stop
- 내리다naeridato get off · (naeryeoyo), (naeryeoseo); it also means to fall, for rain and snow
- 걸어서georeoseoon foot · from (geotda), to walk: (georeoseo gayo), I walk there
- 출구chulguexit · (ipgu), entrance
- 번beonnumber (with Sino-Korean numbers) · (sibil beon chulgu), exit 11; (myeot beon?), which number?
10. Describing people
From chapter 10: learn these words in context
- 이모imoaunt (your mother's sister) · your father's sister is (gomo)
- 어렸을 때eoryeosseul ttaewhen I was little, as a child · learn it as a phrase for now
- 어떤eotteonwhat kind of, what … like · (eotteon buniseyo?), what is she like?; (bun) is the respectful word for person
- 키kiheight · (kiga keoyo), he's tall; (kiga jagayo), she's short
- 짧다jjaldato be short (in length) · (meoriga jjalbayo), she has short hair
- 안경angyeongglasses
- 쓰다sseudato wear (glasses, a hat); to write; to use · (sseoyo), (sseosseoyo)
- 닮다damdato look like, to take after · (eommareul dalmasseoyo), I look like my mum
- 다르다dareudato be different · a 르 verb: (dallayo)
- 계시다gyesidato be (somewhere), honorific · the respectful form of (itda): (eodi gyeseyo?), where is she?
- 모자mojahat, cap
- 길다gildato be long · (gireoyo); before a noun, (gin): (gin meori), long hair
- 착하다chakadato be kind, good-natured · (chakan saram), a kind person
- 친절하다chinjeolhadato be friendly, kind (to others) · often about staff and strangers: (jigwoni chinjeolhaeyo), the staff are friendly
11. Phone calls and messages
From chapter 11: learn these words in context
- 여보세요yeoboseyohello? (on the phone)
- 계시다gyesidato be (somewhere), honorific · (sajangnim gyeseyo?), is the boss there?
- 바꾸다bakkudato change; to put (someone) on the phone · (… ssi jom bakkwo juseyo), can I speak to …?
- 회의 중hoeui jungin a meeting · (jung) means in the middle of: (tonghwa jung), on the phone. When it's over: (hoeuiga kkeunnayo), the meeting ends, from (kkeunnada), to end.
- 메시지mesijimessage
- 남기다namgidato leave (a message) · (mesijireul namgyeosseoyo), I left a message
- 전하다jeonhadato pass on, to tell · (jeonhae juseyo), please pass it on
- 성함seonghamname (honorific) · the everyday word is (ireum)
- 다시dasiagain · (dasi jeonhwahalgeyo), I'll call again
- 문자munjatext message · many people also say (katok), a message on the KakaoTalk app
- 보내다bonaedato send · (munjareul bonaesseoyo), I sent a text
- 한테hanteto (someone) · (ege) in writing, (kke) for people you respect
- 기다리다gidaridato wait · (jamkkanman gidariseyo), one moment, please
- 연락yeollakcontact, getting in touch · (yeollakhalgeyo), I'll be in touch; (yeollak juseyo), get in touch
12. A weekend away
From chapter 12: learn these words in context
- 여행yeohaengtrip, travel · (yeohaengeul gayo), I go on a trip
- 바다badasea · (badatga), the seaside, the beach
- 야경yagyeongnight view, city lights at night
- 사진sajinphoto
- 찍다jjikdato take (a photo) · (sajineul jjigeosseo), I took a photo
- 회hoeraw fish, sashimi · a speciality of every port town
- 맛집matjipa restaurant known for its good food · from (mat), taste, and (jip), house
- 사람이 많다sarami mantato be crowded (lit. there are many people) · (sarami manaseo), because it was busy
- 놀다noldato have fun, to hang out, to play · (jaemiitge norasseo?), did you have fun?
- 가 보다ga bodato go and see; to have been (in the past) · (ga bwasseo?), have you been there?
- 기차gichatrain · (gicharo), by train
- 숙소suksoplace to stay (hotel, guesthouse)
- 꼭kkokdefinitely, be sure to · (kkok ga bwa), you really must go
- 또ttoagain, also · (tto gago sipeo), I want to go again
Other levels: Beginner (A1) · Intermediate (B1) · Upper intermediate (B2)