When to use it
Many young Koreans understand some English but are shy to speak it. Trying a few Korean words first usually gets a warmer response.
What people say back
조금요 (jogeumyo): A little
Letter by letter: 영어 할 수 있어요
Korean is written in syllable blocks. Here is what each block of 영어 할 수 있어요 is made of.
| Block | Letters | Sounds |
|---|---|---|
| 영 | ㅇ + ㅕ + ㅇ | ㅇ silent, ㅕ yeo, ㅇ ng (at the end) |
| 어 | ㅇ + ㅓ | ㅇ silent, ㅓ eo |
| 할 | ㅎ + ㅏ + ㄹ | ㅎ h, ㅏ a, ㄹ l (at the end) |
| 수 | ㅅ + ㅜ | ㅅ s, ㅜ u |
| 있 | ㅇ + ㅣ + ㅆ | ㅇ silent, ㅣ i, ㅆ t (at the end) |
| 어 | ㅇ + ㅓ | ㅇ silent, ㅓ eo |
| 요 | ㅇ + ㅛ | ㅇ silent, ㅛ yo |
Written 영어 할 수 있어요, but said [영어 할 수 이써요]: 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:
DㅇUㅕDㅇDㅇJㅓSpace␣GㅎKㅏFㄹSpace␣TㅅNㅜSpace␣DㅇLㅣShift+TㅆDㅇJㅓDㅇYㅛ
Practice with the online Korean keyboard, or learn the layout in the typing test.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "Do you speak English?" in Korean?
The everyday polite way is 영어 할 수 있어요? (yeongeo hal su isseoyo?). The formal version is 영어 하실 수 있으세요?. With close friends, say 영어 할 줄 알아?.
How do you pronounce 영어 할 수 있어요??
It sounds like "yeongeo hal su isseoyo?", because of Korean sound changes it is said as [영어 할 수 이써요]. 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