Korean word

말하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationmalhada

Meaning

  • verbsay

Example

그는 나에게 말했어요.keu neun na e ge mal hae sseo yo

He said to me.

Illustration for 말하다 (say)

More examples

그녀는 속마음을 말했어요.keu nyeo neun song ma eu meul mal hae sseo yo

She spoke her mind.

Core concept

A speaker turns thoughts or facts into sound and passes them to a listener.

Common phrases

  • 속마음을 말하다song ma eu meul mal ha da

    speak one's mind

  • 대놓고 말하다tae no ko mal ha da

    speak openly

  • 전화로 말하다cheon hwa ro mal ha da

    speak on the phone

Similar words

얘기하다yaegihada: A conversational verb for sharing stories, feelings, or thoughts.
알리다allida: A verb meaning to let someone know a fact, plan, time, or piece of news.
전하다cheonhada: A verb for conveying a message, information, or object to another person.
말씀하다malsseumhada: A respectful verb for describing an honored person's speech.

Definition in Korean

생각이나 사실을 소리로 표현하여 다른 사람에게 전달하는 동사.saeng ga gi na sa si reul so ri ro pyo hyeon ha yeo ta reun sa ra me ge cheon dal ha neun tong sa

Word origin

The word 말하다 (malhada, "to say or speak") joins 말 (mal, "speech or words") with 하다 (hada, "to do"), giving the basic sense of speaking words.

Usage tips

  • When reporting another person's words, this verb often appears in a larger quoted-speech pattern rather than standing alone.

Other meanings

  • speakverb
  • tellverb
  • stateverb

Opposites

  • 침묵하다chimmukadaremain silentverb

Related words

  • 말씨malssimanner of speakingnoun
  • 말걸이malkkeoriconversation openernoun

Word lists with this word