How to Say "What Is This" in Korean

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

Phrase · audio · pronunciation
Polite

이거 뭐예요?

igeo mwoyeyo?

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

Formal

이것은 무엇입니까?

igeoseun mueosimnikka?

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

Casual

이거 뭐야?

igeo mwoya?

Close friends, younger people and family.

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When to use it

Point and ask: perfect at markets and restaurants. 저거 뭐예요? asks about something farther away.

Letter by letter: 이거 뭐예요

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

BlockLettersSounds
이ㅇ + ㅣㅇ silent, ㅣ i
거ㄱ + ㅓㄱ g / k, ㅓ eo
뭐ㅁ + ㅝㅁ m, ㅝ wo
예ㅇ + ㅖㅇ silent, ㅖ ye
요ㅇ + ㅛㅇ silent, ㅛ yo

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:

DㅇLㅣRㄱJㅓSpace␣AㅁNㅜJㅓDㅇShift+PㅖDㅇYㅛ

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

Frequently asked questions

How do you say "What is this?" in Korean?

The everyday polite way is 이거 뭐예요? (igeo mwoyeyo?). The formal version is 이것은 무엇입니까?. With close friends, say 이거 뭐야?.

How do you pronounce 이거 뭐예요??

It sounds like "igeo mwoyeyo?". 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