To say thank you in Korean, start with 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) or 고맙습니다 (gomapseumnida) when you want to speak politely. 고마워요 (gomawoyo) is conversational polite, while 고마워 (gomawo) is casual. The final 요 makes an important difference: these last two forms are not interchangeable in every relationship.
Quick reference: four useful thank-you forms
Choose for the relationship and situation, rather than assuming the listener’s age alone gives permission to speak casually. Romanisation below is a reading aid, not an exact pronunciation guide.
| Korean | Romanisation | Speech level | Practical starting point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 감사합니다 | gamsahamnida | Formal polite | A polite thank you to someone you do not know or in a formal exchange. |
| 고맙습니다 | gomapseumnida | Formal polite | Another formal polite thank you. It is not a less-polite version of 감사합니다. |
| 고마워요 | gomawoyo | Conversational polite | Everyday conversation when you want to retain a polite ending. |
| 고마워 | gomawo | Casual | A relationship where casual speech is already appropriate, such as a friend with whom you use it. |
On a narrow screen, swipe the table sideways to read every column.
If you are uncertain, keep a polite form rather than dropping 요 just because the other person looks younger.
Formal polite: 감사합니다 and 고맙습니다
Both phrases express thanks in a formal polite style. They have different roots, but there is no need to learn them as two separate rungs on a politeness ladder. In particular, do not treat 고맙습니다 as merely semi-formal.
The National Institute of Korean Language describes -ㅂ니다 and -습니다 as formal, listener-respecting endings. 감사합니다 uses -ㅂ니다; 고맙습니다 uses -습니다.
A learner does not need to choose between them by guessing which sounds more sincere. Practise one polite form clearly, then add the other to your vocabulary.
Conversational polite: why 고마워요 is different from 고마워
The word “informal” in a grammar description does not always mean non-polite. The dictionary describes the -아/어요 family as informal but listener-respecting. 고마워요 belongs to conversational polite speech. Removing its final 요 gives 고마워, the casual form.
This is a useful distinction to notice when watching a conversation or reading a message. Ask whether the speakers are using polite or casual speech with each other before copying a phrase.
What about 고맙다 and 정말 고마워?
고맙다 is the dictionary headword you may see when looking up “thankful” or “grateful.” For a polite spoken thank you, learn its conjugated forms from the table rather than using the headword as a generally polite greeting.
정말 고마워 adds “really” to a casual thank you. Adding that word does not turn the sentence into polite speech. The official 고맙다 entry includes the forms 고마워, 고마워요 and 고맙습니다, with examples and pronunciation audio.
Practise choosing a phrase
These are illustrative practice situations, not quotations from a Korean Explorer class or rules about how every Korean speaker must respond. More than one polite answer may fit.
- A shopkeeper you have not met before helps you find an item. Start with 감사합니다 or 고맙습니다. You are practising a polite thank you to an unfamiliar person.
- A classmate lends you a pen, and you normally use polite speech together. Try 고마워요. You can be friendly without dropping the polite ending.
- A close friend helps you, and you already use casual speech with each other. 고마워 fits that stated relationship. Being a friend is not an instruction to switch every relationship to casual speech.
Self-check: cover the answer and say your choice aloud. Then explain whether it is formal polite, conversational polite or casual. Finally, write a second situation where you would keep 요. This tests the distinction rather than memorising a long list of near-synonyms.
Continue learning and checking pronunciation
Use the linked dictionary audio to hear the forms instead of relying only on English spelling. For the gratitude root behind 감사합니다, see the official 감사하다 entry. These independent references are learning resources; linking them does not imply an affiliation with the school.
The useful first step is to recognise the speech level, choose a form that fits the relationship, and practise it in context. You can then compare Korean course options if you want structured practice.
