Korean · Everyday Verbs
"to say" in Korean: 말하다
말하다malhada
to say in Korean is 말하다 (malhada). 말하다 introduces what someone says; -라고 marks quoted words and -에게 marks the listener.
to say: an everyday statement
그렇게 말해요.geureoke malhaeyo.
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How to pronounce 말하다
Say it
malhada
/malhata/
Read 말하다 as malhada. The spoken form 말해요 is malhaeyo; preserve its final 요 when addressing someone politely.
"to say" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 말하다malhada | to say Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 말해요malhaeyo | to say (polite present) Use 말해요 in an everyday polite sentence. | Use 말해요 in an everyday polite sentence. |
| 말했어요malhaesseoyo | to say (polite past) Use 말했어요 for a completed past action or state. | Use 말했어요 for a completed past action or state. |
How to use 말하다 in real life
- 1to say: an everyday statement
그렇게 말해요.
geureoke malhaeyo.
I say it that way.
말해요 is the present form of 말하다.
- 2to say: a different situation
친구에게 사실을 말했어요.
chinguege sasireul malhaesseoyo.
I told my friend the truth.
말했어요 is the past form of 말하다.
- 3to say: a question or request
한국어로 어떻게 말해요?
hangugeoro eotteoke malhaeyo?
How do you say it in Korean?
말해요 is the present form of 말하다.
Mistakes English speakers make with 말하다
Incorrect: 말하다.
Correct: 말해요.
When practicing to say, 말하다 names the dictionary entry. In polite speech, change the ending to 말해요.
Incorrect: 어제 말해요.
Correct: 어제 말했어요.
When practicing to say, for a completed event yesterday, use 말했어요; the present form 말해요 does not express that past event.
Good to know
말하다 introduces what someone says; -라고 marks quoted words and -에게 marks the listener. 말해요 is the polite conversational form of 말하다; 말했어요 gives a past-tense form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led everyday verbs study exercise: two sentences with 말하다
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
그렇게 말해요.
geureoke malhaeyo.
I say it that way.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
친구에게 사실을 말했어요.
chinguege sasireul malhaesseoyo.
I told my friend the truth.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
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FAQ
Common questions about "to say" in Korean
How do I use 말하다 in polite speech?
말해요 is the polite conversational form of 말하다; 말했어요 gives a past-tense form.
How do I use 말하다 in a past-tense sentence?
말했어요 is the polite past form. 말하다 introduces what someone says; -라고 marks quoted words and -에게 marks the listener.
What does 말해요 mean here?
말해요 is used for to say. For example, 그렇게 말해요. means “I say it that way.”
What should I remember about 말하다?
말하다 introduces what someone says; -라고 marks quoted words and -에게 marks the listener.
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