Tag Archives: Korean Language

Korean

Korean Words: Nationality and Language

Korean Words for Nationality and Language.
When a country name is followed by 사람 or 인, it means a person of that nationality.
Languages of countries are formed by adding 말 or 어 to country names.
English, however, is just 영어 without referring to a country.

 Country Nationality Language
Colloquial Form Literary Form Colloquial Form Literary Form
한국
hanguk
Korea
한국 사람
hanguk saram
Korean person
한국인
hangugin
Korean
한국말
hangungmal
Korean language
한국어
hangugeo
Korean
일본
ilbon
Japan
일본 사람
ilbon saram
Japanese person
일본인
ilbonin
Japanese
일본말
ilbonmal
Japanese language
일본어
ilboneo
Japanese
중국
jungguk
China
중국 사람
jungguk saram
Chinese person
중국인
junggugin
Chinese
중국말
junggungmal
Chinese language
중국어
junggugeo
Chinese
프랑스
peurangseu
France
프랑스 사람
peurangseu saram
French person
프랑스인
peurangseuin
French
프랑스말
peurangseumal
French language
프랑스어
peurangseueo
French
미국
miguk
America
미국 사람
miguk saram
American person
미국인
migugin
American
영어
yeongeo
English
영어
yeongeo
English
외국
oeguk
Foreign
외국 사람
oeguk saram
Foreign person
외국인
oegugin
Foreigner
외국말
oegungmal
Foreign Language
외국어
oegugeo
Foreign

* English is an exception
* 사람 is more informal, while 인 is more formal.
* 말 is more informal, while 어 is more formal.

어느 나라 사람이에요?
eoneu nara saramieyo
Which country are you from?

미국 사람이에요?
miguk saramieyo
Are you American?

저는 프랑스 사람이에요.
jeoneun peurangseu saramieyo
I am French.

박 선생님은 한국 사람이에요.
bak seonsaengnimeun hanguk saramieyo
Mr./Ms. Park is Korean.