Knowing how to say English in Korean and asking someone if they can speak Korean can be surprisingly handy information to know.

This article will teach you how to say English in Korean, with related phrases and vocabulary to enhance your fluency. With this information tucked in your memory, you will be well prepared for situations where you may need some English knowledge in the country.

“English” in Korean

The word for English in Korean is 영어 (yeong-eo). For example:

저는 영어로 된 영화를 좋아해요. (jeoneun yeongeoro doen yeonghwareul joahaeyo)

I like movies in English.

If you’re going to use the word “English” to refer to a person, you can use the Korean word 영국사람 (yeongguksaram). For example,

알렉스는 영국 사람이에요. (allekseuneun yeongguk saramieyo.)

Alex is English.

How to say 영어 (yeong-eo) in Korean

Here is a clickable audio clip for 영어 (yeong-eo) that you can listen to.

영어 (yeong-eo)

Why is learning how to say English in Korean important?

Before we move on to the vocabulary, it’s also essential to know why learning this word is important.

Easily identify if a Korean person speaks English

While the aim is to be able to navigate your way through Korea while speaking the Korean language, sometimes situations arise – especially at the start of your journey – where it’s far easier to explain something in English, if possible. After all, Korean might still be a new language to you.

In this way, you can ask rather than just assume that they don’t communicate in English.

Easily find someone who speaks English in South Korea

Although not all Koreans can speak English, you can always find an English native speaker in the country. Therefore, it’s good to know some vocabulary and phrases and their meaning with which you can change the conversation language into English when needed.

How to say “I Speak English” in Korean

While in Korea, you may be asked if you can speak English. Here are some examples of ways to answer that in Korean. You may also use these as questions to confirm if your conversation partner can communicate in English.

저는 영어를 할 수 있어요. (jeoneun yeongeoreul hal su isseoyo.)

영어를 할 줄 알아요. (yeongeoreul hal jul arayo.)

How to say “Do you speak English” in Korean?

This is how you say “Do you speak English?” in Korean in a polite and formal way:

영어를 할 수 있으세요? (yeongeoreul hal su isseuseyo?)

This is how you can say the same in Korean a little bit more casually:

영어를 할 수 있어요? (yeongeoreul hal su isseoyo?)

You can also use these phrases for asking the question in Korean:

영어를 하세요? (yeongeoreul haseyo?)

영어를 할 줄 아세요? (yeongeoreul hal jul aseyo?)

영어를 할 줄 알아요? (yeongeoreul hal jul arayo?)

How to say “I don’t speak English” in Korean?

Here are a few more ways to express in the Korean language that you cannot speak or understand English. Thus you can understand better if someone gives you an answer like this to your question.

영어를 할 수 없어요. (yeongeoreul hal su eopseoyo.)

영어를 할 줄 몰라요. (yeongeoreul hal jul mollayo.)

죄송하지만 영어를 잘 이해하지 못해요. (joesonghajiman yeongeoreul jal ihaehaji mothaeyo.)

Vocabulary related to English in Korean

Here are some Korean words related to English.

English	Korean
English person	영국사람 (yeongguksaram)
England	잉글랜드 (inggeullaendeu)
United Kingdom	영국 (yeongguk)
English translation	영어 번역 (yeongeo beonyeok)
English version	영문판 (yeongmunpan)

Sentences related to English in Korean

Now that you know some Korean words related to English, here are some sample sentences in Korean too:

그것을 영어로 말해 주세요. (geugeoseul yeongeoro malhae juseyo.)

Please say that in English.

영어를 말해 주세요. (yeongeoreul malhae juseyo.)

Please speak in English.

영어를 잘 알아요? (yeongeoreul jal arayo?)

Do you know English well?

일을 할 때 보통 영어를 사용해요. (ireul hal ttae botong yeongeoreul sayonghaeyo.)

I usually use English when working.

저는 영국사람이에요. (jeoneun yeongguksaramieyo.)

I am English.

나는 영어를 조금 말 할 수 있어요. (naneun yeongeoreul jogeum mal hal su isseoyo.)

I can speak a little bit of English.

영어를 잘 몰라요. (yeongeoreul jal mollayo.)

I don’t speak English well.

죄송하지만, 영어를 못 해요. (joesonghajiman, yeongeoreul mot haeyo.)

I apologize, but I can’t speak English.

A Word of Caution About Romanization

Although you could learn the Korean words in this article by reading their romanized versions, in everyday Korean life, you will need to know how to read them in Hangeul. Hangeul is the Korean alphabet and is very easy to learn. You learn it in just 90 minutes.

Once you know Hangeul, you will start to recognize the different shops and stores on the street, and Korea will seem more like your home than before. If you are serious about learning Korean, then start by learning Hangeul. In fact, why not learn Korean today?

Conclusion

Have you already been able to use a sentence like this with Korean people, perhaps your Korean friends?

Besides English, you can even use these sentences for Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, German, and many more! Which other languages have you found this knowledge useful for? Let us know in the comments!

We hope that you continue to practice and keep it your main goal to be able to converse as much as possible in the Korean language, however! In fact, to support our lesson today, how about you go on and catch some more Korean phrases into your Korean knowledge?

The post How to say “English” in Korean – Useful words and sentences appeared first on 90 Day Korean®.