The 500 most common Korean words

These are the first 500 of a graded list of 2500, in the order a corpus of everyday writing says you will actually meet them. Learning them in this order is the fastest route to understanding most of what you read.

Meanings are given in English on this page. In the app they appear in your own language, translated on your device.

#	Word	Type	Meaning
1	-이	Particles	subject marker (after a consonant)
2	-는	Particles	topic marker (after a vowel)
3	-을	Particles	object marker (after a consonant)
4	-에	Particles	at, in, on; to (place or time)
5	-다	Particles	plain declarative ending
6	-의	Particles	of, 's (possessive)
7	-고	Particles	and (joins clauses)
8	-은	Particles	topic marker (after a consonant)
9	-가	Particles	subject marker (after a vowel)
10	-를	Particles	object marker (after a vowel)
11	하다	Verbs	to do
12	-들	Particles	plural marker
13	한	Determiners	about, around
14	-도	Particles	also, too; even
15	것	Nouns	thing; something; that which; what
16	-게	Particles	to, for (a person; short for -에게)
17	-에서	Particles	at, in (where an action happens); from
18	-으로	Particles	to, toward; by, with (after a consonant)
19	자기	Nouns	oneself
20	일	Numbers	one
21	-나	Particles	or; about, roughly
22	-로	Particles	to, toward; by, with (after a vowel)
23	-아	Particles	hey (calling someone, after a consonant)
24	-과	Particles	and; with (after a consonant)
25	그	Determiners	that (of what has been already said or known)
26	수	Determiners	a few, several
27	-와	Particles	and; with (after a vowel)
28	이다	Particles	For the Korean copula ("to be")
29	되다	Verbs	to become
30	-만	Particles	only, just
31	안	Adverbs	not
32	-요	Particles	polite sentence ending
33	주	Determiners	main; principal
34	월	Nouns	month
35	말	Nouns	horse
36	-니	Particles	casual question ending
37	내	Pronouns	allomorph of 나
38	제	Pronouns	allomorph of 저
39	-더	Particles	A vocative case marker showing respect for the
40	사람	Nouns	human being, person
41	자	Numbers	10²⁴
42	-야	Particles	Post-vowel allomorphic form of -아
43	아니	Adverbs	no; not
44	-여	Particles	Post-vowel allomorphic form of -이여
45	우리	Pronouns	we
46	-에게	Particles	to, for (a person or animal)
47	때	Nouns	time; occasion
48	-라고	Particles	that, saying (quotative)
49	전	Determiners	ex-; previous
50	-며	Particles	Post-vowel allomorph form of -이며 (-imyeo, “and”)
51	-라	Particles	suffix used after words ending with a vowel
52	네	Determiners	four (of something)
53	저	Determiners	that (distal determiner)
54	알다	Verbs	to know
55	님	Pronouns	you (second-person pronoun)
56	잘	Adverbs	well
57	등	Nouns	rank
58	-까지	Particles	until, as far as, up to
59	오	Numbers	five
60	-서	Particles	contraction of -에서 (-eseo)
61	못	Adverbs	cannot
62	생각	Nouns	thought
63	번	Determiners	having been earned
64	자동차	Nouns	automobile, car
65	딸기	Nouns	strawberry
66	두	Numbers	two (as a determiner before a noun or classifier)
67	시간	Nouns	time
68	-면서	Particles	while, as (doing both)
69	-부터	Particles	from, starting at
70	성	Determiners	saint
71	보다	Adverbs	relatively, more
72	분	Numbers	one tenth, ¹⁄₁₀
73	명	Nouns	command; order
74	원	Nouns	won
75	살	Nouns	arrow
76	위	Nouns	above, upper, upside, top
77	걸다	Verbs	to hang, to suspend
78	다른	Determiners	different, other
79	지금	Adverbs	now
80	만들다	Verbs	to make
81	때문	Nouns	cause
82	어서	Adverbs	quickly
83	왜	Adverbs	why
84	여자	Nouns	woman
85	무어	Pronouns	What
86	좀	Adverbs	little while, short time
87	후	Nouns	after
88	하나	Numbers	one (independently, without a classifier)
89	-같이	Particles	like, in a similar way
90	날	Nouns	day (twenty-four hours, a thirtieth of the month)
91	시작	Nouns	start, beginning
92	너무	Adverbs	too, excessively
93	사랑	Nouns	love; affection (emotion)
94	그리고	Adverbs	and, also
95	군	Pronouns	you; used chiefly when addressing younger men
96	차	Nouns	vehicle (usually refers to car)
97	게임	Nouns	game, especially computer games
98	및	Adverbs	and, additionally
99	사용	Nouns	usage in order to fulfill a purpose or role
100	거	Pronouns	contraction of 그것 (geugeot, “that, that thing”)
101	너	Pronouns	second-person singular informal pronoun; you
102	위해	Nouns	harm; danger
103	줄	Nouns	string, rope
104	집	Nouns	home, house
105	함께	Adverbs	together
106	다음	Nouns	the next, the following
107	-보다	Particles	than (comparison)
108	가지	Nouns	twig or branch
109	남자	Nouns	man
110	또	Adverbs	also
111	사	Numbers	four
112	-랑	Particles	and; with (colloquial)
113	대한	Nouns	great grudge
114	오늘	Adverbs	today
115	이런	Determiners	like this; such
116	이상	Nouns	an amount more than
117	함	Nouns	box
118	길	Nouns	a road, a path, a street, a track; passage, thoroughfare
119	다시	Adverbs	again, once more
120	데	Nouns	place
121	모든	Determiners	all, every, each
122	애	Nouns	anxiety; impatience
123	필요	Nouns	need; necessity
124	이야기	Nouns	talk
125	지다	Verbs	to fall; to sink; to set; to go down
126	문제	Nouns	problem, issue, question
127	서울	Nouns	capital; large city
128	씨	Nouns	seed, kernel
129	곳	Nouns	place
130	정말	Adverbs	really; truly
131	죽	Nouns	in a manner arranged in a row; while arranging in a row
132	세	Numbers	three (before a noun or classifier)
133	형	Nouns	older brother of a male
134	아이	Nouns	child, kid
135	자신	Nouns	one's body
136	서다	Verbs	to stand
137	마음	Nouns	mind, heart (i.e. one's emotions)
138	난	Pronouns	topic-marked form of 나 (na)
139	세계	Nouns	the world, the Earth
140	달	Nouns	moon; the Moon
141	이름	Nouns	name; full name
142	남	Nouns	man, male
143	-처럼	Particles	like, as
144	가장	Adverbs	most, -est
145	권	Nouns	volume; book
146	끝	Nouns	end, final
147	비	Nouns	rain
148	속	Nouns	the interior or inside
149	지역	Nouns	area, district, particular geographic region
150	모두	Adverbs	all, wholly
151	사실	Adverbs	in fact, actually
152	음	Nouns	sound (in general)
153	-한테	Particles	to, for (a person; colloquial)
154	많이	Adverbs	many, much, a lot, plenty, in abundance
155	바로	Adverbs	truly, without lie or deception
156	학교	Nouns	school
157	회	Nouns	sliced raw meat or fish; sashimi
158	가능	Nouns	possibility; potentiality
159	그런	Determiners	like that, such
160	앞	Nouns	fore, front
161	상	Nouns	top, best, first (grade or class)
162	그냥	Adverbs	simply; just like that; just as it is
163	-엔	Particles	contraction of 에는 (-e-neun)
164	간	Numbers	10³⁶
165	이제	Nouns	now, and now
166	물	Nouns	water
167	진짜	Adverbs	really; actually
168	호	Nouns	number, issue, edition
169	-으	Particles	Gangwon, Hamgyong, Yukjin, and Russia form of -을
170	경우	Nouns	conditions, circumstances
171	동안	Nouns	interval, period of time
172	첫	Determiners	first; initial
173	장	Nouns	marketplace
174	본	Determiners	this, the item in question
175	따르다	Verbs	to follow
176	타	Determiners	other; another
177	-쓰	Particles	Used after a noun, a personal name
178	-예	Particles	Gyeongsang form of -요
179	손	Nouns	hand (organ of humans and humanoid animals)
180	정도	Nouns	degree, extent
181	조	Numbers	trillion (million million)
182	당	Nouns	justice
183	대표	Nouns	something which is representative
184	도록	Nouns	catalogue
185	영화	Nouns	movie, film
186	대하다	Verbs	to pertain or relate to a topic
187	보이다	Verbs	to be seen
188	-라도	Particles	Post-vowel allomorphic form of -이라도 (-irado, “even”)
189	-뿐	Particles	only, nothing more than, just
190	뒤	Nouns	back, latter, rear
191	마	Nouns	jinx; devil, demon; evil spirit / influence
192	사이트	Nouns	site, website
193	세상	Nouns	world
194	크	Nouns	alternative name for the jamo 키읔 (kieuk)
195	큰	Determiners	conjugative form of 크다 (keuda, “big”): big; grown up
196	부	Nouns	lead
197	여기	Pronouns	here
198	실	Nouns	thread, yarn, string
199	보내다	Verbs	to send, to dispatch
200	당신	Pronouns	second person singular plain pronoun; you
201	돈	Nouns	money
202	어떤	Determiners	what kind of
203	-다가	Particles	An emphatic particle
204	눈	Nouns	eye (organ allowing animals to see)
205	처음	Adverbs	first-time
206	팀	Nouns	team
207	만나다	Verbs	to meet; to see (someone)
208	또한	Adverbs	also, too, furthermore
209	아서	Interjections	An interjection used in intimate-style sentences to
210	이번	Nouns	this time; this occasion
211	이유	Nouns	reason; cause
212	열	Numbers	ten
213	미	Nouns	beauty
214	별	Determiners	special, extraordinary, different, unusual
215	-인데	Particles	to
216	밖	Nouns	outside
217	키	Nouns	key (generally electronic)
218	-스	Particles	-'s
219	감사	Nouns	gratitude; thanks
220	또는	Adverbs	if not; alternatively
221	밤	Nouns	night
222	불	Nouns	fire; flame
223	사진	Nouns	photograph, picture
224	안전	Nouns	safety
225	여성	Nouns	female, woman, womenfolk, womankind
226	온	Determiners	all, whole, entire
227	현재	Adverbs	now, at present; currently
228	통하다	Verbs	to pass through, from one end to the other
229	계속	Adverbs	continuously
230	방송	Nouns	broadcasting
231	아직	Adverbs	still
232	이거	Pronouns	this thing, this matter
233	점	Nouns	point, spot; dot, period, full stop
234	용	Nouns	dragon
235	들다	Verbs	to come in, go in, get in, enter
236	구	Determiners	former; defunct
237	늘다	Verbs	to increase
238	참여	Nouns	participation
239	활동	Nouns	activity
240	소	Nouns	cow; bull; ox; cattle
241	무슨	Determiners	what, what kind of
242	나라	Nouns	country, nation
243	단	Adverbs	but, however
244	몇	Determiners	how many
245	방법	Nouns	way; means; manner; method
246	사회	Nouns	society
247	란	Nouns	egg
248	어디	Pronouns	where
249	위하다	Verbs	to help, to serve, to benefit; to honour, to esteem
250	정보	Nouns	information
251	중요	Nouns	the state of being important; importance
252	기다	Verbs	to crawl, to creep, to grovel
253	그래서	Adverbs	therefore, accordingly, because of that
254	이후	Nouns	the time following a given point in time; thenceforth
255	정부	Nouns	national government, particularly the executive branch
256	진행	Nouns	progress
257	최고	Nouns	the peak, the pinnacle, the topmost point
258	법	Nouns	law
259	천	Numbers	thousand
260	작	Nouns	作: a work by (someone)
261	준비	Nouns	readiness, preparation
262	총	Nouns	gun; rifle; machine gun
263	까다	Verbs	to peel
264	문	Nouns	door
265	그것	Pronouns	that (thing near the listener)
266	근데	Adverbs	however; but
267	돼	Verbs	infinitive of 되다 (doeda)
268	드	Nouns	alternative name for the jamo 디읃 (dieut)
269	새	Determiners	new, novel; fresh
270	재	Nouns	ash
271	확인	Nouns	check; confirmation; verification; affirmation
272	인제	Adverbs	now, but late (overdue); finally
273	방	Classifiers	Counter for shots or rounds fired by a gun or cannon
274	인간	Nouns	human, human being
275	제작	Nouns	production, manufacture
276	테	Nouns	something that goes around the outside of something
277	해도	Nouns	chart (of the sea)
278	리	Nouns	way, reason, sense
279	나오다	Verbs	to come out, come forth
280	가족	Nouns	household; family
281	계	Nouns	kye, a Korean rotating savings and credit association
282	계획	Nouns	a plan
283	교육	Nouns	education
284	국가	Nouns	political state, nation, country, polity
285	대통령	Nouns	president of a country
286	문화	Nouns	culture
287	배	Nouns	abdomen, belly (of a human or animal)
288	약	Adverbs	approximately; about
289	연구	Nouns	research
290	트	Classifiers	number of attempts
291	결과	Adverbs	as a result of
292	도시	Adverbs	at all (in a negative context)
293	바	Nouns	bar; pub; bar parlour
294	사건	Nouns	a noteworthy or remarkable incident
295	상태	Nouns	condition, status
296	조금	Adverbs	a little; a bit
297	참	Adverbs	truly, really
298	결정	Nouns	decision
299	경기	Nouns	a sporting or athletic competition or match
300	관련	Nouns	connection, relation
301	그러나	Adverbs	but, however
302	둘	Numbers	two
303	모습	Nouns	the appearance of a person
304	없이	Adverbs	without, lacking
305	초	Nouns	the SI unit of time, second
306	피	Nouns	blood (bodily fluid)
307	시키다	Verbs	to cause to do or happen
308	관계	Nouns	connection; relationship
309	라면	Nouns	instant noodle
310	막	Nouns	tent, hut, shack, shelter
311	반	Nouns	party; group
312	사이	Nouns	gap; space between
313	생	Nouns	life
314	아들	Nouns	son
315	이용	Nouns	use; utilization
316	힘	Nouns	strength; power
317	노래	Nouns	song
318	누구	Pronouns	who
319	몸	Nouns	body (of a human or animal)
320	상황	Nouns	conditions, the situation
321	십	Numbers	ten
322	포함	Nouns	inclusion
323	프로그램	Nouns	program
324	들어가다	Verbs	to go into; to enter
325	글	Nouns	a piece of writing
326	기술	Nouns	technology
327	뜻	Nouns	meaning, sense, significance
328	마지막	Nouns	the end; the last thing
329	머리	Nouns	head
330	이것	Pronouns	this
331	갖	Nouns	leather, hide
332	공개	Nouns	Opening to the public
333	기록	Nouns	a record (of something)
334	부분	Nouns	portion; section; part
335	안녕	Nouns	peace; tranquility
336	위치	Nouns	location
337	의미	Nouns	meaning (of words or deeds)
338	이미	Adverbs	already
339	전화	Nouns	telephone, phone
340	지원	Nouns	support; aid
341	질	Nouns	quality
342	내일	Adverbs	tomorrow
343	-께	Particles	The honorific form of the particle 에게 (ege) meaning to
344	대학	Nouns	college, university
345	물론	Adverbs	of course, certainly, naturally
346	여러	Determiners	several, various
347	무	Nouns	nothing, nothingness
348	개발	Nouns	development
349	그녀	Pronouns	she
350	발견	Nouns	find; discovery
351	하루	Nouns	a day, 24 hours
352	그럼	Adverbs	then, in that case
353	아무	Determiners	any
354	언제	Pronouns	when
355	올	Determiners	this year
356	인가	Nouns	permission, license
357	자리	Nouns	space, place, site (occupied by something or someone)
358	-이랑	Particles	and
359	기억	Nouns	recall; the faculty of memory
360	듯	Nouns	as if; in a manner suggesting that
361	발표	Nouns	presentation; exhibition; announcement; release
362	엄마	Nouns	mum, mummy
363	여러분	Nouns	ladies and gentlemen; everyone (present)
364	역사	Nouns	history
365	운동	Nouns	exercise, physical activity; sport, sports
366	이해	Nouns	understanding, comprehension of something
367	출장	Nouns	going out somewhere on business, a business trip
368	양	Determiners	two; both
369	시대	Nouns	historical age or period
370	-만큼	Particles	the degree or extent to which
371	가격	Nouns	monetary price
372	갈	Nouns	a fork of a forked tenon
373	꼭	Adverbs	absolutely; surely
374	아버지	Nouns	father (parent)
375	누	Nouns	trouble, imposition (chiefly in some idioms)
376	삼	Numbers	three
377	일어나다	Verbs	to arise, get up; to wake up
378	김	Nouns	laver
379	역시	Adverbs	too, also
380	편	Nouns	side
381	행복	Nouns	happiness
382	회사	Nouns	a company
383	-마다	Particles	each, every
384	국민	Nouns	people of a nation
385	기준	Nouns	a fundamental standard or criterion
386	꿈	Nouns	dream
387	부산	Nouns	din; ruckus; commotion
388	인터넷	Nouns	Internet
389	책	Nouns	book
390	항상	Adverbs	always
391	가지다	Verbs	to have, to possess
392	각	Determiners	each
393	거리	Nouns	road, street
394	거의	Adverbs	almost, nearly
395	경제	Nouns	economy
396	기분	Nouns	feeling, mood
397	대상	Nouns	target; object
398	먼저	Adverbs	first in time or sequence
399	배우	Nouns	actor (person who performs in a theatrical play or film)
400	아침	Nouns	morning
401	얼굴	Nouns	face
402	운영	Nouns	management; administration; operation
403	존재	Nouns	existence
404	코	Nouns	nose
405	판매	Nouns	selling; sale
406	내용	Nouns	that which is contained in a container
407	병원	Nouns	hospital
408	아주	Adverbs	very
409	조사	Nouns	exposure to light
410	존	Nouns	zone
411	추천	Nouns	recommendation
412	백	Numbers	hundred
413	왕	Nouns	king; monarch
414	교수	Nouns	instruction
415	구성	Nouns	configuration, arrangement, composition
416	기업	Nouns	a business
417	답	Nouns	answer, reply
418	일반	Nouns	general; common
419	자유	Nouns	freedom, liberty
420	쪽	Nouns	in a manner indeed arranged in a row
421	팔	Numbers	eight
422	혼자	Nouns	solitude
423	산	Nouns	mountain
424	아기	Nouns	unweaned baby, child
425	과정	Nouns	course
426	대로	Nouns	the same way as, the manner of
427	대부분	Nouns	the majority, the better part
428	매우	Adverbs	very, extremely
429	사업	Nouns	business
430	삶	Nouns	life; living
431	서로	Pronouns	each other, one another
432	선택	Nouns	selection; choice; option
433	작품	Nouns	a creative work or product
434	정치	Nouns	politics; governmental affairs
435	준	Verbs	given: Past determiner form of 주다 (juda, “to give”)
436	직접	Adverbs	directly
437	학생	Nouns	student, scholar, school pupil
438	쓰다	Verbs	to wear, to put on
439	개인	Nouns	an individual or individuals; a private person
440	결국	Adverbs	in the end, ultimately
441	대회	Nouns	a competition, contest or tournament
442	비교	Nouns	comparison
443	성공	Nouns	success
444	스포츠	Nouns	sports
445	음악	Nouns	music
446	응	Interjections	yes
447	의원	Nouns	member of a parliament or assembly
448	특별	Nouns	The state or quality of being special
449	-이다	Particles	to be
450	센터	Nouns	center (place where some function or activity occurs)
451	돌	Nouns	rock, stone; pebble
452	알리다	Verbs	to inform, to announce, to make known
453	-로서	Particles	Post-vowel and post-ㄹ (l) allomorphic form of -으로서
454	뉴스	Nouns	a news broadcast
455	도움	Nouns	help; assistance; favour, favor
456	발생	Nouns	occurrence, incidence
457	부탁	Nouns	request, favor
458	어느	Determiners	which
459	인생	Nouns	one's life
460	카	Nouns	car
461	풀	Nouns	herbaceous plants, particularly grass
462	주어	Nouns	subject (of a sentence)
463	식	Nouns	ceremony, ritual, expression
464	결혼	Nouns	marriage
465	국제	Nouns	international, internationality
466	그거	Pronouns	it, that thing
467	그래도	Adverbs	nevertheless
468	딸	Nouns	daughter (female child)
469	쉬	Nouns	pee-pee, wee-wee
470	이게	Pronouns	this thing (as the subject of the sentence or clause)
471	정신	Nouns	mind; consciousness; pneuma; psyche
472	추가	Nouns	addition
473	관하다	Verbs	to be in relation to, with regard to
474	베다	Verbs	to cut, to chop
475	오다	Verbs	to come (to move towards the speaker)
476	멀다	Verbs	to go blind
477	관리	Nouns	administration, management, supervision
478	구나	Nouns	act of catching a criminal
479	르	Nouns	alternative name for the jamo 리을 (rieul)
480	말씀	Nouns	word or speech
481	무료	Nouns	free, at no cost, free of charge
482	선수	Nouns	athlete; sportsman; a person who participates in a sport
483	설치	Nouns	installation, establishment
484	씩	Adverbs	with a grin
485	앨범	Nouns	album
486	얼마나	Adverbs	how long, how much, how many
487	잘못	Adverbs	erroneously
488	전쟁	Nouns	war
489	층	Nouns	storey or floor
490	특히	Adverbs	in particular, notably
491	해외	Nouns	overseas
492	공연	Nouns	a public performance
493	기대	Nouns	expectation; hope
494	다양	Nouns	diversity; variety
495	당시	Nouns	the time in question
496	아래	Nouns	below, bottom, lower, underneath
497	억	Numbers	hundred million
498	완전	Adverbs	absolutely, completely, totally
499	위원회	Nouns	committee
500	바라다	Verbs	to wish, to want, to desire, to hope for, to long for

All 500 A1 words are on this page, free, with no sign-up.

The rest of the list

A2A2 Beginner: 500 more words-느 · 공격 · 그런데 · 급 · 모델
B1B1 Intermediate: 750 more words차례 · 처 · 출연 · 포기 · 경
B2B2 Upper intermediate: 750 more words서버 · 성우 · 신용 · 실력 · 웃음

A2 to B2 are part of Oqou Pro, in the app, where you can also send any word straight into spaced review and meet it again on the day you are about to forget it.

Where this comes from

The order is measured: it comes from how often each word appears in a large corpus, counted across all the forms of a word rather than each form separately, so a verb is ranked where you really meet it. The band edges are a convention rather than a measurement. Nothing says word 501 is harder than word 500; the levels are cut where established graded reader series cut theirs.

wordfreq 3.1 (frequency order) + en.wiktionary via kaikki.org (part of speech, gender, gloss). Corpus read on 2026-09-16.

Questions

Where does the order come from?

From how often each word appears in a large corpus of everyday writing. Frequency is counted across all the forms of a word and attributed to the dictionary form, so a verb is ranked where a reader really meets it rather than being spread thinly over a dozen endings.

Why are these lists shorter than the ones with 5,000 or 10,000 words?

Because past about 2,500 a frequency rank stops meaning much. Rank 6,000 in a web corpus is not a harder word, it is a word that happens to be common in journalism. Established graded reader series top out near 2,500 headwords for the same reason.

Is every word in the list a real dictionary word?

Yes. Every headword is checked against the language's own Wiktionary entry, which is where the part of speech, the gender and the meaning come from. That check is what removes the proper nouns, single letters and corpus noise that raw frequency lists are full of.

Do I need the app?

Not for this page. The A1 list is free here and free in the app. A2 to B2 are part of Oqou Pro, and the app is also where a word can go from a list into a review queue, which is the part a page cannot do.

Has a native speaker checked these?

Not yet. The frequency order and the part of speech are mechanical, and the meanings come from a dictionary rather than being written by hand, but nothing here has been through native review. If you spot a meaning that is technically right and practically useless, we would like to hear about it.