Korean word

이야기

Pronunciation

Romanizationiyagi

Meaning

  • nountalk

Example

친구와 이야기를 했어.chin gu wa i ya gi reul hae sseo

I talked with my friend.

Illustration for 이야기 (talk)

More examples

어제 들은 이야기가 정말 웃겼어.eo je teu reun i ya gi ga cheong mal ut kkyeo sseo

The story I heard yesterday was really funny.

Core concept

Spoken words passed between people or shared as a story or message.

Common phrases

  • 이야기를 하다i ya gi reul ha da

    talk

  • 이야기를 듣다i ya gi reul teut tta

    hear a story

  • 이야기를 나누다i ya gi reul na nu da

    have a conversation

Similar words

얘기yaegi: A casual spoken report about something that happened or something being discussed.
말mal: Spoken words used to share thoughts or information.
대화taehwa: An exchange of words in which people share views and seek understanding.
잡담chapttam: Light conversation about unimportant everyday matters.

Definition in Korean

말로 주고받거나 한 사람이 다른 사람에게 들려주는 내용이나 그 행위로서의 대화와 이야기mal lo chu go bat kkeo na han sa ra mi ta reun sa ra me ge teul lyeo ju neun nae yong i na keu haeng wi ro seo ui tae hwa wa i ya gi

Word origin

This native Korean noun has no reliable word-part explanation, so its two linked uses are a helpful way to remember the word as a whole.

Usage tips

  • This word is useful in casual conversation because Korean speakers use it for friendly chatting as well as more serious discussion.

Other meanings

  • storynoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 이야기하다iyagihadatalkverb
  • 이야깃거리iyagitkkeorisomething to talk aboutnoun
  • 이야기꾼iyagikkunstorytellernoun

Word lists with this word