TL;DR
- π μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμμ? [i-reum-i mwo-ye-yo?] β "What's your name?" (everyday, safe default)
- π© μ±ν¨μ΄ μ΄λ»κ² λμΈμ? [seong-ham-i eo-tteo-ke dwoe-se-yo?] β "May I ask your name?" (formal/honorific)
- π« μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμΌ? [i-reum-i mwo-ya?] β "What's your name?" (casual)
- π μ μ΄λ¦μ μ§μμ΄μμ. [je i-reum-eun ji-eun-i-e-yo] β "My name is Ji-eun." (consonant-ending name)
- π μ λ λ―Όμμμ. [jeo-neun min-su-ye-yo] β "I'm Min-su." (vowel-ending name)
Iru Helper Note: Tap any purple phrase to hear it spoken aloud, or use the Korean Helper Widgets to slow it down. Try it now with μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμμ? [i-reum-i mwo-ye-yo?]
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π The Big Picture
Sharing your name sounds simple, but Korean has a few small details that make a big difference: how polite the question sounds, and how to attach the ending μ΄μμ/μμ to your own name correctly. This lesson covers all three levels of "what's your name," how to answer smoothly no matter how your name ends, and the cultural habit of using full names in formal introductions.
πͺͺ Three Ways to Ask "What's Your Name?"
- Formal/Honorific π© β μ±ν¨μ΄ μ΄λ»κ² λμΈμ? [seong-ham-i eo-tteo-ke dwoe-se-yo?]. μ±ν¨ is an honorific word for "name" β use this for elders, interviewers, customers, or anyone you'd address very politely. Literally closer to "How does your esteemed name come to be?" β it sounds elaborate in English, but it's just normal polite Korean.
- Everyday Mode π (safe default) β μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμμ? [i-reum-i mwo-ye-yo?]. Perfect for classmates, coworkers your age, new acquaintances at a casual event.
- Casual Mode π« β μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμΌ? [i-reum-i mwo-ya?]. For kids, close friends, or people clearly younger than you who you're already comfortable with.
Bonus: If you only caught someone's name partially or want their last name specifically, you can ask μ±μ΄ λμμ? [seong-i mwo-ye-yo?] β "What's your last name?"
π€ Answering: μ΄μμ vs μμ
When you say "My name is ___," the ending depends on the last sound of your name:
- Name ends in a consonant sound (like μ, λ―Ό, μ§) β add μ΄μμ. Example: μ§μ β μ§μμ΄μμ [ji-eun-i-e-yo].
- Name ends in a vowel sound (like μ, νΈ, λ) β add μμ. Example: λ―Όμ β λ―Όμμμ [min-su-ye-yo].
This same μ΄μμ/μμ rule applies to any noun, so getting comfortable with it here pays off everywhere else too. In formal settings, swap either ending for μ
λλ€ [ip-ni-da] β it works after both consonants and vowels, no exceptions: μ§μμ
λλ€ / λ―Όμμ
λλ€.
𧳠Essential Phrase Kit
- μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμμ? [i-reum-i mwo-ye-yo?] β What's your name? (everyday) π
- μ±ν¨μ΄ μ΄λ»κ² λμΈμ? [seong-ham-i eo-tteo-ke dwoe-se-yo?] β May I ask your name? (formal) π©
- μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμΌ? [i-reum-i mwo-ya?] β What's your name? (casual) π«
- μ μ΄λ¦μ ___μ΄μμ/μμ. [je i-reum-eun i-e-yo/ye-yo] β My name is . π
- μ λ ___μ λλ€. [jeo-neun ip-ni-da] β I am . (formal) π©
- μ μ΄λ¦μ ___μ λλ€. [je i-reum-eun ip-ni-da] β My name is . (formal) π©
- ___λΌκ³ λΆλ¬ μ£ΌμΈμ. [ra-go bul-leo ju-se-yo] β Please call me . π
- ___λΌκ³ ν΄μ. [ra-go hae-yo] β People call me / I go by ___. π
- μ±μ΄ λμμ? [seong-i mwo-ye-yo?] β What's your last name? π€
- λ§λμ λ°κ°μμ. [man-na-seo ban-ga-wo-yo] β Nice to meet you. (great to pair with your name) π€
π οΈ Putting It Together
- A: μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμμ? B: μ λ λ°μ§μμ΄μμ. λ§λμ λ°κ°μμ. [i-reum-i mwo-ye-yo? / jeo-neun bak-ji-eun-i-e-yo. man-na-seo ban-ga-wo-yo] β "A: What's your name? B: I'm Park Ji-eun. Nice to meet you."
Here Ji-eun gives her full name (last name λ° + first name μ§μ) β very common in introductions, even casual ones.
- A: μ±ν¨μ΄ μ΄λ»κ² λμΈμ? B: κΉλ―Όμμ λλ€. [seong-ham-i eo-tteo-ke dwoe-se-yo? / gim-min-su-ip-ni-da] β "A: May I ask your name? B: I'm Kim Min-su."
μ
λλ€ is the formal "to be" ending β perfect for job interviews, meeting a client, or addressing someone clearly senior.
- A: μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμΌ? B: μμ§μ΄μΌ. κ·Έλ₯ μμ§μ΄λΌκ³ λΆλ¬. [i-reum-i mwo-ya? / su-jin-i-ya. geu-nyang su-jin-i-ra-go bul-leo] β "A: What's your name? B: I'm Sujin. Just call me Sujin."
Among friends, first names (sometimes with a casual ending like -μ/μΌ attached) are completely normal β no last name needed.
π£οΈ Speaking Practice: Mini Dialogues
Dialogue 1 β Meeting a new coworker (Everyday)
- λ―Όμ: μλ νμΈμ, μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμμ? [an-nyeong-ha-se-yo, i-reum-i mwo-ye-yo?] β "Hello, what's your name?"
- μ§μ: μλ νμΈμ, μ λ μ§μμ΄μμ. μ΄μ§μμ λλ€. [an-nyeong-ha-se-yo, jeo-neun ji-eun-i-e-yo. i-ji-eun-ip-ni-da] β "Hello, I'm Ji-eun. (Full name) Lee Ji-eun."
- λ―Όμ: λ°κ°μμ, μ§μ μ¨. μ λ λ―Όμμμ. [ban-ga-wo-yo, ji-eun ssi. jeo-neun min-su-ye-yo] β "Nice to meet you, Ji-eun. I'm Min-su."
Dialogue 2 β Formal introduction at an interview (Formal)
- λ©΄μ κ΄: μ±ν¨μ΄ μ΄λ»κ² λμΈμ? [myeon-jeop-gwan: seong-ham-i eo-tteo-ke dwoe-se-yo?] β "May I ask your name?"
- μ¬λΌ: λ€, μ¬λΌ μ‘΄μ¨μ λλ€. λ§λμ λ°κ°μ΅λλ€. [ne, sa-ra jon-seun-ip-ni-da. man-na-seo ban-gap-seum-ni-da] β "Yes, I'm Sara Johnson. Nice to meet you."
π§ Speaking Tip
μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμμ? and answering with μ λ ___μμ/μ΄μμ covers the vast majority of everyday situations. Save μ±ν¨μ΄ μ΄λ»κ² λμΈμ? and μ
λλ€ for formal contexts (interviews, business, addressing elders) β using formal forms too often with friends can feel distant, but using casual forms with strangers or elders can feel disrespectful.
β οΈ Pitfalls to Dodge
- β Asking a stranger or elder μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμΌ? (casual) β β μ±ν¨μ΄ μ΄λ»κ² λμΈμ? or μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμμ? β casual forms can sound rude or overly familiar.
- β Saying "λ―Όμμ΄μμ" or "μ§μμμ" (wrong ending for the name's last sound) β β Vowel-ending name + μμ, consonant-ending name + μ΄μμ β λ―Όμμμ / μ§μμ΄μμ.
- β Only giving your first name in a very formal setting (interview, business meeting) β β Full name + μ λλ€ is standard in formal introductions.
- β Forgetting to say λ§λμ λ°κ°μμ/λ°κ°μ΅λλ€ after giving your name β β It's the expected follow-up β leaving it out can feel abrupt.
π μνμ΄μ! [jal-haess-eo-yo] You can now introduce yourself smoothly in any setting β λ§λμ λ°κ°μμ!
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Try this exercise
1. Ask a new classmate their name (everyday).
μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμμ? [i-reum-i mwo-ye-yo?]
2. Ask a job interviewer their name, formally.
μ±ν¨μ΄ μ΄λ»κ² λμΈμ? [seong-ham-i eo-tteo-ke dwoe-se-yo?]
3. Your name is λ―ΌνΈ (Minho). Which ending β μ΄μμ or μμ?
μμ β λ―ΌνΈμμ (νΈ ends in a vowel sound).
4. Your name is μμ§ (Sujin). Which ending β μ΄μμ or μμ?
μ΄μμ β μμ§μ΄μμ (μ§ ends in consonant γ΄).
5. Translate formally: "I am Kim Min-su." (interview setting)
κΉλ―Όμμ
λλ€. [gim-min-su-ip-ni-da]
6. Translate: "Please call me Sara."
μ¬λΌλΌκ³ λΆλ¬ μ£ΌμΈμ. [sa-ra-ra-go bul-leo ju-se-yo]
7. Ask a close friend's younger sibling their name (casual).
μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμΌ? [i-reum-i mwo-ya?]
8. What's the formal "to be" ending that works after both consonants and vowels?
μ
λλ€ [ip-ni-da]
9. After giving your name, what should you usually say next?
λ§λμ λ°κ°μμ / λ°κ°μ΅λλ€ β "Nice to meet you."
10. Practice aloud: Introduce yourself with your full name (formal) and say it's nice to meet them.
μ λ [μ±+μ΄λ¦]μ
λλ€. λ§λμ λ°κ°μ΅λλ€. [jeo-neun ___ ip-ni-da. man-na-seo ban-gap-seum-ni-da]
Vocabulary Box
- μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμμ? [i-reum-i mwo-ye-yo?] β What's your name?
- μ±ν¨μ΄ μ΄λ»κ² λμΈμ? [seong-ham-i eo-tteo-ke dwoe-se-yo?] β May I ask your name? (formal)
- μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμΌ? [i-reum-i mwo-ya?] β What's your name? (casual)
- μ μ΄λ¦μ μ΄μμ/μμ. [je i-reum-eun i-e-yo/ye-yo] β My name is ___.
- μ λ μ λλ€. [jeo-neun ip-ni-da] β I am ___. (formal)
- μ μ΄λ¦μ μ λλ€. [je i-reum-eun ip-ni-da] β My name is ___. (formal)
- λΌκ³ λΆλ¬ μ£ΌμΈμ. [ra-go bul-leo ju-se-yo] β Please call me ___.
- λΌκ³ ν΄μ. [ra-go hae-yo] β People call me ___.
- μ±μ΄ λμμ? [seong-i mwo-ye-yo?] β What's your last name?
- λ§λμ λ°κ°μμ. [man-na-seo ban-ga-wo-yo] β Nice to meet you.
Pitfalls π‘: μ±ν¨ for formal/elders Β· vowel-ending name+μμ, consonant-ending+μ΄μμ Β· full name in formal intros Β· always follow up with λ°κ°μμ
Want more reps? Head down to the Practice Hub below for 30 more questions across 3 exercises.
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π― Practice Hub β Stating Your Name Politely
Ready for more reps? Work through these 3 exercises (30 items total). Say each phrase out loud as you go β the Korean Helper Widgets can help with pronunciation.
Exercise 1: Formal, Everyday, or Casual?
A. μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμμ?
Everyday π
B. μ±ν¨μ΄ μ΄λ»κ² λμΈμ?
Formal π©
C. μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμΌ?
Casual π«
D. κΉλ―Όμμ λλ€.
Formal π©
E. μ λ λ―Όμμμ.
Everyday π
F. μμ§μ΄μΌ.
Casual π«
G. λ§λμ λ°κ°μ΅λλ€.
Formal π©
H. λ§λμ λ°κ°μμ.
Everyday π
I. κ·Έλ₯ μμ§μ΄λΌκ³ λΆλ¬.
Casual π«
J. μ±ν¨μ΄ μ΄λ»κ² λμΈμ? (to your grandfather)
Formal π©
Quick Reference
- Formal π© β μ±ν¨μ΄ μ΄λ»κ² λμΈμ? / ___μ λλ€ / λ°κ°μ΅λλ€. For elders, interviews, business.
- Everyday π β μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμμ? / ___μμ/μ΄μμ / λ°κ°μμ. Safe default.
- Casual π« β μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμΌ? / ___μ΄μΌ / λ°κ°μ. Close friends, younger people.
Exercise 2: μ΄μμ or μμ?
A. μ§μ (Ji-eun) β μ μ΄λ¦μ ___?
μ§μμ΄μμ (consonant ending γ΄ β μ΄μμ)
B. λ―Όμ (Min-su) β μ λ ___?
λ―Όμμμ (vowel ending μ β μμ)
C. μ¬λΌ (Sara) β μ λ ___?
μ¬λΌμμ (vowel ending λΌ β μμ)
D. μμ§ (Sujin) β μ μ΄λ¦μ ___?
μμ§μ΄μμ (consonant ending γ΄ β μ΄μμ)
E. λ―ΌνΈ (Minho) β μ λ ___?
λ―ΌνΈμμ (vowel ending νΈ β μμ)
F. μ§μ (Jinyoung) β μ μ΄λ¦μ ___?
μ§μμ΄μμ (consonant ending γ
β μ΄μμ)
G. True or False: μ λλ€ changes depending on whether the name ends in a consonant or vowel.
False β μ
λλ€ works the same after both.
H. νΈμ€ (Hojun) β μ λ ___? (formal)
νΈμ€μ
λλ€ (formal β no μ΄μμ/μμ needed)
I. What sound determines μ΄μμ vs μμ?
The final sound of the word right before it β consonant β μ΄μμ, vowel β μμ.
J. λλ (Nana) β μ μ΄λ¦μ ___?
λλμμ (vowel ending λ β μμ)
Quick Rule: μ΄μμ vs μμ
- Consonant-ending word β +μ΄μμ
- Vowel-ending word β +μμ
- Formal? Skip the rule entirely β +μ λλ€
Exercise 3: Mix It All Together
A. Build a full formal self-introduction with your full name and "nice to meet you."
μ λ [μ±+μ΄λ¦]μ
λλ€. λ§λμ λ°κ°μ΅λλ€. [jeo-neun ___ ip-ni-da. man-na-seo ban-gap-seum-ni-da]
B. Translate: "What's your last name?" then answer "My last name is Kim."
μ±μ΄ λμμ? β μ μ±μ κΉμ΄μμ. [seong-i mwo-ye-yo? β je seong-eun gim-i-e-yo]
C. A new friend your age asks μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμμ? Respond with your name and "please call me ___."
μ λ μμ/μ΄μμ. λΌκ³ λΆλ¬ μ£ΌμΈμ. [jeo-neun ye-yo/i-e-yo. ra-go bul-leo ju-se-yo]
D. Which is more appropriate when meeting your partner's parents for the first time: μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμΌ? or μ±ν¨μ΄ μ΄λ»κ² λμΈμ?
μ±ν¨μ΄ μ΄λ»κ² λμΈμ? β they're senior/new acquaintances, so formal is appropriate (though they'd ask you, not vice versa, typically).
E. Translate the full exchange: "A: What's your name? B: I'm Park Jiho. Nice to meet you. A: Nice to meet you too, Jiho."
A: μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμμ? B: μ λ λ°μ§νΈμμ. λ§λμ λ°κ°μμ. A: μ λ λ°κ°μμ, μ§νΈ μ¨.
F. Fill in: κ·Έλ₯ λΌκ³ ν΄μ. (just call me/I go by β casual self-intro)
κ·Έλ₯ [name]λΌκ³ ν΄μ. [geu-nyang ___ ra-go hae-yo]
G. True or False: It's normal to give your full name (last + first) even in casual introductions in Korea.
True β many people share their full name even casually, though friends often go by first name afterward.
H. You misheard someone's name. Ask them politely to repeat just their name.
μ£μ‘νλ°, μ΄λ¦μ΄ λλΌκ³ νμ
¨μ΄μ? [joe-song-han-de, i-reum-i mwo-ra-go ha-syeo-sseo-yo?]
I. Choose the better fit for a job interview: "μ λ μμ" or "μ λ μ λλ€"
μ λ ___μ
λλ€ β formal contexts call for μ
λλ€.
J. Practice aloud: Greet someone, ask their name (everyday), and respond to their answer with "nice to meet you."
μλ
νμΈμ! μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμμ? β μ λ μμ. β λ°κ°μμ! [an-nyeong-ha-se-yo! i-reum-i mwo-ye-yo? β jeo-neun ye-yo. β ban-ga-wo-yo!]
Everyday Cheat Sheet
- Ask (default) β μ΄λ¦μ΄ λμμ?
- Ask (formal) β μ±ν¨μ΄ μ΄λ»κ² λμΈμ?
- Answer (vowel-ending name) β ___μμ
- Answer (consonant-ending name) β ___μ΄μμ
- Answer (formal, either) β ___μ λλ€
- Always follow up β λ§λμ λ°κ°μμ!
π μνμ΄μ! [jal-haess-eo-yo] You can now introduce yourself with confidence in any situation!
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