How to Say "Okay" in Korean

The everyday way to say it is 알겠어요 (algesseoyo). Korean changes the ending depending on who you talk to, so here are the forms you'll actually hear.

Phrase · audio · pronunciation
Polite

알겠어요

algesseoyo

Strangers, shop staff, coworkers and most adults. The safe default.

Formal

알겠습니다

algetseumnida

Speeches, customers, older people and first meetings at work.

Casual

알았어

arasseo

Close friends, younger people and family.

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When to use it

알겠어요 is "got it, understood". 오케이 is used too, and 좋아요 means "sounds good".

Letter by letter: 알겠어요

Korean is written in syllable blocks. Here is what each block of 알겠어요 is made of.

BlockLettersSounds
알ㅇ + ㅏ + ㄹㅇ silent, ㅏ a, ㄹ l (at the end)
겠ㄱ + ㅔ + ㅆㄱ g / k, ㅔ e, ㅆ t (at the end)
어ㅇ + ㅓㅇ silent, ㅓ eo
요ㅇ + ㅛㅇ silent, ㅛ yo

Written 알겠어요, but said [알게써요]: linking (final moves to the next vowel). The romanizer explains these sound rules for any word.

New to the letters? Tap through the Hangul chart to hear each one.

How to type it

On a standard Korean keyboard (2-set), press these keys in order:

DㅇKㅏFㄹRㄱPㅔShift+TㅆDㅇJㅓDㅇYㅛ

Practice with the online Korean keyboard, or learn the layout in the typing test.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say "Okay" in Korean?

The everyday polite way is 알겠어요 (algesseoyo). The formal version is 알겠습니다. With close friends, say 알았어.

How do you pronounce 알겠어요?

It sounds like "algesseoyo", because of Korean sound changes it is said as [알게써요]. Press the speaker button on this page to hear it.

Romanization: Revised Romanization of Korean, with sound changes. Audio: a recorded native-sounding Korean voice.
Last checked: 2026-10-20