Korean for English speakers Townhall · Lesson 4

Languages in NounTown

Korean language names — 한국어 (Korean), 일본어 (Japanese) — country + 어 makes a language name.

Conversation

  1. Yennifer Yennifer

    저 어제 노운타운 게임을 샀어요! 한국어하고 일본어를 배워요.

    Jeo eoje nountaun geimeul sasseoyo! Hangugeohago ilboneoreul baewoyo.

    I bought the NounTown game yesterday! I'm learning Korean and Japanese on it.

    Tip: <어제> = yesterday <게임> = game <샀어요> = verb "to buy" (in past tense) <한국어> = korean language <일본어> = japanese language <배워요> = verb "to learn" (in present tense) [Note] In Korean, most of language names are made with country name + 어 (language) : 스페인어 (spanish), 포르투갈어 (portugish). Exceptionally, english is 영어, not 영국어 (영국 = England), nor 미국어 (미국 = USA).

  2. Meera Meera

    저도 노운타운에서 한국어를 배워요. 이제 한국어로 인사할 수 있어요.

    Jeodo nountauneseo hangugeoreul baewoyo. Ije hangugeoro insahal su isseoyo.

    I'm also learning Korean in NounTown. Now I can say hello in Korean.

    Tip: <이제> = now <N(으)로> = particle of means (in, with, by, ...) <인사할 수 있어요> = verb "can greet/say hello" (in present tense)

  3. Yennifer Yennifer

    와, 미라 씨, 대단해요!

    Wa, mira ssi, daedanhaeyo!

    Wow, Ms. Meera, It's awesome!

    Tip: <대단해요> = "It's awesome"

  4. Meera Meera

    다른 외국어도 더 배울 거예요.

    Dareun oegugeodo deo baeul geoyeyo.

    I will learn more foreign languages.

    Tip: <다른> = another <외국어> = foreign language <더> = more <배울 거예요> = verb "to learn" (in future tense)

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How are Korean language names formed?

Country + 어: 한국 (Korea) + 어 = 한국어 (Korean language). 일본 + 어 = 일본어 (Japanese).

What does 인사할 수 있어요 mean?

'I can greet'. 인사하다 (greet) + -ㄹ 수 있어요 (can). -로 = means: 한국어로 = 'in Korean'.

Common languages in Korean?

한국어 (Korean), 영어 (English), 일본어 (Japanese), 중국어 (Chinese), 스페인어 (Spanish), 프랑스어 (French).

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Korean lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

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