Korean Communication Vocabulary — Words for Talking
Communication is the whole point of a language, so the words for talking, asking and connecting are some of the most useful Korean you can learn early. This page collects Korean communication vocabulary: 말 (speech), 편지 (letter), 질문 (question), 대화 (conversation), each paired with its English meaning and audio. For English speakers, two features stand out. First, Korean uses Hangul, a remarkably systematic alphabet you can read within a week — each character block is a single syllable built from a handful of letters. Second, Korean vocabulary doesn't overlap with English the way European languages do, so these words are genuinely new and best fixed by hearing as well as seeing them. Korean also adjusts speech for politeness, so the same idea can take different forms depending on who you're talking to — another reason to listen closely. Tap any 🔊 to hear a native speaker. Read the list to practise the script, then move into the game below, where matching each word as it falls makes the new vocabulary stick.
Key words explained
- conversation 대화 We had a long conversation over coffee.
- letter 편지 She wrote her grandmother a handwritten letter.
- text 문자 He sent a quick text to say he was running late.
- speech 연설 The student gave a confident speech to the class.
- argument 논쟁 They settled the argument with a calm talk.
- discussion 토론 The meeting opened with a lively discussion.
- dialogue 대화 The film's dialogue felt natural and real.
- announcement 공지 An announcement came over the station speakers.
All 90 Korean communication words
| English | Pronunciation | Korean | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| conversation | /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃən/ | 대화 | |
| letter | /ˈlɛtər/ | 편지 | |
| text | /tɛkst/ | 문자 | |
| speech | /spiːtʃ/ | 연설 | |
| argument | /ˈɑːrɡjʊmənt/ | 논쟁 | |
| discussion | /dɪˈskʌʃən/ | 토론 | |
| dialogue | /ˈdaɪəlɑːɡ/ | 대화 | |
| announcement | /əˈnaʊnsmənt/ | 공지 | |
| phrase | /freɪz/ | 구문 | |
| accent | /ˈæksɛnt/ | 억양 | |
| tone | /toʊn/ | 어조 | |
| expression | /ɪkˈsprɛʃən/ | 표현 | |
| gesture | /ˈdʒɛstʃər/ | 몸짓 | |
| reply | /rɪˈplaɪ/ | 답장 | |
| translation | /trænsˈleɪʃən/ | 번역 | |
| media | /ˈmiːdiə/ | 미디어 | |
| broadcast | /ˈbrɔːdkæst/ | 방송 | |
| channel | /ˈtʃænəl/ | 채널 | |
| editor | /ˈɛdɪtər/ | 편집자 | |
| headline | /ˈhɛdlaɪn/ | 헤드라인 | |
| article | /ˈɑːrtɪkəl/ | 기사 | |
| advertisement | /ˌædvərˈtaɪzmənt/ | 광고 | |
| review | /rɪˈvjuː/ | 리뷰 | |
| correspondent | /ˌkɔːrɪˈspɑːndənt/ | 특파원 | |
| presenter | /prɪˈzɛntər/ | 진행자 | |
| documentary | /ˌdɑːkjʊˈmɛntəri/ | 다큐멘터리 | |
| series | /ˈsɪriːz/ | 시리즈 | |
| episode | /ˈɛpɪsoʊd/ | 에피소드 | |
| subtitle | /ˈsʌbtaɪtəl/ | 자막 | |
| caption | /ˈkæpʃən/ | 캡션 | |
| social media | /ˈsoʊʃəl ˈmiːdiə/ | 소셜 미디어 | |
| post | /poʊst/ | 게시물 | |
| comment | /ˈkɑːmɛnt/ | 댓글 | |
| subscribe | /səbˈskraɪb/ | 구독하다 | |
| filter | /ˈfɪltər/ | 필터 | |
| content | /ˈkɑːntɛnt/ | 콘텐츠 | |
| influencer | /ˈɪnfluənsər/ | 인플루언서 | |
| viral | /ˈvaɪrəl/ | 바이럴 | |
| hashtag | /ˈhæʃtæɡ/ | 해시태그 | |
| banner | /ˈbænər/ | 배너 | |
| forum | /ˈfɔːrəm/ | 포럼 | |
| chat | /tʃæt/ | 채팅 | |
| inbox | /ˈɪnbɑːks/ | 받은 편지함 | |
| spam | /spæm/ | 스팸 | |
| clickbait | /ˈklɪkbeɪt/ | 낚시성 콘텐츠 | |
| screenshot | /ˈskriːnʃɑːt/ | 스크린샷 | |
| poll | /poʊl/ | 투표 | |
| tag | /tæɡ/ | 태그 | |
| mention | /ˈmɛnʃən/ | 멘션 | |
| emoji | /ɪˈmoʊdʒi/ | 이모지 | |
| meme | /miːm/ | 밈 | |
| bookmark | /ˈbʊkmɑːrk/ | 북마크 | |
| cursor | /ˈkɜːrsər/ | 커서 | |
| query | /ˈkwɪri/ | 쿼리 | |
| engagement | /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒmənt/ | 참여도 | |
| audience | /ˈɔːdiəns/ | 청중 | |
| follower | /ˈfɑːloʊər/ | 팔로워 | |
| live | /laɪv/ | 라이브 | |
| newsletter | /ˈnuːzlɛtər/ | 뉴스레터 | |
| interpretation | /ɪnˌtɜːrprɪˈteɪʃən/ | 해석 | |
| fluency | /ˈfluːənsi/ | 유창함 | |
| bilingual | /baɪˈlɪŋɡwəl/ | 이중 언어 | |
| pronunciation | /prəˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃən/ | 발음 | |
| dialect | /ˈdaɪəlɛkt/ | 방언 | |
| slang | /slæŋ/ | 속어 | |
| idiom | /ˈɪdiəm/ | 관용구 | |
| fluent | /ˈfluːənt/ | 유창한 | |
| abbreviation | /əˌbriːviˈeɪʃən/ | 약어 | |
| acronym | /ˈækrənɪm/ | 두문자어 | |
| literal | /ˈlɪtərəl/ | 문자 그대로의 | |
| figurative | /ˈfɪɡjərətɪv/ | 비유적인 | |
| narrative | /ˈnærətɪv/ | 서사 | |
| manuscript | /ˈmænjʊskrɪpt/ | 원고 | |
| draft | /dræft/ | 초안 | |
| outline | /ˈaʊtlaɪn/ | 개요 | |
| paraphrase | /ˈpærəfreɪz/ | 바꿔 말하기 | |
| plagiarism | /ˈpleɪdʒərɪzəm/ | 표절 | |
| citation | /saɪˈteɪʃən/ | 인용 | |
| press | /prɛs/ | 언론 | |
| column | /ˈkɑːləm/ | 칼럼 | |
| tabloid | /ˈtæblɔɪd/ | 타블로이드 | |
| censorship | /ˈsɛnsərʃɪp/ | 검열 | |
| propaganda | /ˌprɑːpəˈɡændə/ | 선전 | |
| rhetoric | /ˈrɛtərɪk/ | 수사학 | |
| monologue | /ˈmɑːnəlɑːɡ/ | 독백 | |
| persuade | /pərˈsweɪd/ | 설득하다 | |
| clarify | /ˈklærɪfaɪ/ | 명확히 하다 | |
| interpret | /ɪnˈtɜːrprɪt/ | 해석하다 | |
| correspond | /ˌkɔːrɪˈspɑːnd/ | 서신을 주고받다 | |
| transmit | /trænsˈmɪt/ | 전달하다 |
Tired of memorizing word lists? Reading a table won't make these stick. Speakka turns vocabulary into a falling-words game — catch the word before it lands and the meaning sticks because you played it. A new way to learn vocabulary that doesn't feel like studying.
→ Play in Speakka