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Where do you start?

5 546 words in 139 lists — and the question of which come first. Here it is answered by calculation, not by assertion.

The usual answer to this question is a frequency list of Korean. There is none here: such a list is a compiled work with rights of its own, and this site consists of nothing that was not written for it.

The calculation runs over this site itself. Every Korean sentence on it — the example sentence of every word, the examples and rules of every grammar topic, the reading texts and whatever else is here — is counted word by word. That shows, for each word, how much of this material it unlocks.

That is less than a frequency list promises and more than it proves. It says nothing about Korean as a whole. It says how far you get here — and this is the path you take if you learn here.

How much the first words unlock

The first …cover
100 words30.0 %
250 words45.3 %
500 words58.1 %
1 000 words69.9 %
2 000 words79.3 %
4 000 words85.8 %
5 339 words89.1 %

The curve flattens early, and that is what this page is really telling you: the first words bring far more than the ones after them. If you are starting from zero, do not start with the specialist lists.

What a Korean sentence here is made of

from the word lists
89.1 %
Framework: articles, auxiliaries, conjunctions
8.8 %
in no list
2.1 %

The middle figure is the reason this list does not start with an article: articles, auxiliaries and conjunctions make up a large share of all the words on this site and still appear in no vocabulary list. You learn them through grammar, not through flashcards — and ranking them here would mean offering someone an article as their first word. The third figure is the gap this site measures in itself; tools/luecken.py lists it.

The first 500, in order

The number after each word is how often it occurs in the Korean sentences on this site — occurrences are counted, not sentences. A click takes you to the list it is in.

있다

to be (somewhere); to have

1  ·  696×

하다

to do

1  ·  612×

가다

to go

1  ·  392×

친구

friend

1  ·  319×

사람

person; people

1  ·  309×

먹다

to eat

1  ·  293×

보다

to see; to look; to watch

1  ·  266×

오다

to come

1  ·  252×

오늘

today

1  ·  233×

집

house; home; flat

1  ·  214×

많이

a lot, much

1  ·  205×

많다

to be many, much; to be a lot

1  ·  199×

주세요

please give me; I would like

1  ·  192×

한

one (before a counter)

1  ·  189×

너무

too; very

1  ·  185×

정말

really, truly

1  ·  180×

없다

not to be (somewhere); not to have

1  ·  179×

되다

to become

2  ·  163×

아이

child

1  ·  155×

회사

company; the office

1  ·  155×

일

one

1  ·  150×

두

two (before a counter)

1  ·  147×

쓰다

to be bitter

2  ·  146×

시

o'clock; hour (on the clock)

1  ·  141×

자다

to sleep

1  ·  134×

주말

weekend

1  ·  127×

아침

morning; breakfast

1  ·  116×

동생

younger brother or sister

1  ·  115×

어제

yesterday

1  ·  114×

크다

to be big; to be tall

1  ·  114×

오

five

1  ·  110×

내일

tomorrow

1  ·  107×

만나다

to meet

1  ·  106×

받다

to receive, to get

1  ·  106×

비가 오다

to rain

1  ·  103×

음식

food

1  ·  103×

영화

film

1  ·  102×

선생님

teacher

1  ·  101×

지금

now

1  ·  101×

듣다

to listen; to hear

1  ·  99×

새

new

1  ·  98×

사다

to buy

1  ·  96×

그 전에

before that

3  ·  95×

식당

restaurant

1  ·  95×

이번

this (time); this one

2  ·  92×

한국

Korea

1  ·  92×

물

water

1  ·  91×

그렇기 때문에

that is why; for that reason

3  ·  90×

다음

next; following

2  ·  90×

걸다

to hang (up)

2  ·  89×

세

years of age (formal)

1  ·  88×

요즘

these days; lately

2  ·  88×

넣다

to put in

2  ·  87×

만들다

to make

1  ·  85×

회의

meeting

2  ·  85×

사

four

1  ·  83×

같이

together

1  ·  82×

마시다

to drink

1  ·  82×

방

room

1  ·  82×

차

tea

1  ·  82×

아주

very

1  ·  80×

주다

to give

1  ·  79×

커피

coffee

1  ·  79×

좋아요

OK; sounds good

1  ·  78×

책

book

1  ·  78×

작다

to be small; to be short (person)

1  ·  75×

학교

school

1  ·  75×

좋아하다

to like

1  ·  74×

동안

for; during

2  ·  73×

매일

every day

1  ·  73×

문

door

1  ·  73×

시간

time; hour

1  ·  72×

위

top; on, above

1  ·  72×

버스

bus

1  ·  71×

문제

problem, issue; question (in a test)

3  ·  70×

한국어

the Korean language

1  ·  70×

날씨

weather

1  ·  69×

대

counter for vehicles and machines

1  ·  69×

어렵다

to be difficult

2  ·  69×

지다

to lose (a game)

3  ·  69×

같다

to be the same; to be like

1  ·  68×

저녁

evening; dinner

1  ·  68×

가방

bag

1  ·  67×

여기

here

1  ·  67×

읽다

to read

2  ·  67×

타다

to ride, take; to get on

1  ·  67×

밤

night

1  ·  66×

열다

to open

2  ·  66×

할머니

grandmother

1  ·  66×

주

week

1  ·  65×

주시다

to give (honorific)

2  ·  65×

번

number (in a series)

1  ·  64×

앞

front; in front of

1  ·  64×

가게

shop

1  ·  63×

날

day; the weather (of a day)

1  ·  63×

들다

to lift, hold, carry (in the hands)

2  ·  63×

몇

how many; what (number)

1  ·  63×

일하다

to work

2  ·  62×

나가다

to go out, leave

1  ·  61×

달

month (counted with native numbers)

1  ·  61×

시험

exam, test

1  ·  61×

시간이 나다

to have (free) time

3  ·  60×

년

year

1  ·  59×

맛있다

to be tasty, delicious

1  ·  59×

삼

three

1  ·  59×

조금

a little, a bit

1  ·  59×

중

in the middle of; during

2  ·  59×

처음

the first time; the beginning

1  ·  59×

학생

student; pupil

1  ·  59×

하나

one

1  ·  58×

개

item, piece (general counter for things)

1  ·  57×

여름

summer

1  ·  57×

해

year (with native numbers)

2  ·  57×

쉬다

to rest

2  ·  56×

다시

again, once more

1  ·  54×

뒤

back; behind

1  ·  54×

살

year of age

1  ·  54×

아버지

father

1  ·  54×

여행

travel; trip

1  ·  54×

춥다

to be cold (weather, feeling)

1  ·  54×

가족

family

1  ·  53×

꼭

definitely; without fail

2  ·  53×

시작하다

to start, to begin

1  ·  53×

나오다

to come out

2  ·  52×

바쁘다

to be busy

1  ·  52×

분

person (honorific); counts people you respect

1  ·  52×

수업

class, lesson

1  ·  52×

아프다

to hurt; to be ill

1  ·  52×

모르다

not to know

1  ·  51×

보이다

to be seen; to be visible

2  ·  51×

부모님

parents

2  ·  51×

서울

Seoul

1  ·  51×

엄마

mum

1  ·  51×

좋다

to be good; to be nice

1  ·  51×

끝나다

to end, to finish

1  ·  50×

혼자

alone; on one's own

1  ·  50×

어리다

to be young (of a child); to be younger

1  ·  48×

하루

a day; one day

2  ·  48×

드리다

to give (to someone respected)

2  ·  47×

생일

birthday

1  ·  47×

열

ten

1  ·  47×

걸리다

to take (time)

1  ·  46×

겨울

winter

1  ·  46×

그렇지 않아요

that is not so

2  ·  46×

만

ten thousand

1  ·  46×

비싸다

to be expensive

1  ·  46×

살다

to live

1  ·  46×

아직

still; (not) yet

2  ·  46×

원

won (Korean money)

1  ·  46×

공원

park

1  ·  45×

됐어요

no thanks; never mind; that will do

3  ·  45×

자주

often

2  ·  45×

말하다

to speak; to say; to tell

1  ·  44×

재미있다

to be fun, interesting

1  ·  44×

보내다

to send

2  ·  43×

시장

market

1  ·  43×

알다

to know

1  ·  43×

어디

where

1  ·  43×

일찍

early

1  ·  43×

좋은 하루 보내세요

have a nice day

1  ·  43×

길

road, way

1  ·  42×

길다

to be long

1  ·  42×

십

ten

1  ·  42×

기다리다

to wait (for)

2  ·  41×

길이

length

2  ·  41×

나서다

to set out; to leave (the house)

2  ·  41×

데다

to burn yourself, scald

2  ·  41×

배우

actor; actress

2  ·  41×

점심

lunch; midday

1  ·  41×

공부하다

to study

1  ·  40×

찾다

to look for; to find

2  ·  40×

필요하다

to be necessary, needed

3  ·  40×

눈이 오다

to snow

1  ·  39×

돈을 찾다

to withdraw money

3  ·  39×

동네

neighbourhood; area

2  ·  39×

들어가다

to go in, enter

1  ·  39×

바람

wind

1  ·  39×

산

mountain; hill

1  ·  39×

서다

to stand; to stop

1  ·  39×

어머니

mother

1  ·  39×

줄

row, line; roll (of gimbap)

1  ·  39×

찍다

to take (a photo)

1  ·  39×

할아버지

grandfather

1  ·  39×

늦게

late

1  ·  38×

덥다

to be hot (weather, feeling)

1  ·  38×

뭐

what (spoken)

1  ·  38×

손님

customer; guest

2  ·  38×

숙제

homework

1  ·  38×

시다

to be sour

2  ·  38×

은행

bank

1  ·  38×

이름

name

1  ·  38×

지하철

underground, subway

1  ·  38×

형

older brother (of a man)

1  ·  38×

말

language; speech; words

1  ·  37×

명

person (counter for people)

1  ·  37×

바다

sea

1  ·  37×

옷

clothes

1  ·  37×

휴대폰

mobile phone

2  ·  37×

근처

nearby; neighbourhood

1  ·  36×

다르다

to be different

1  ·  36×

닫다

to close

2  ·  36×

따르다

to follow; to pour

4  ·  36×

하늘

sky

2  ·  36×

김치

kimchi

1  ·  35×

남다

to be left over

1  ·  35×

막히다

to be jammed (traffic); to be blocked

1  ·  35×

모두

all; everyone

1  ·  35×

생각

thought; idea

2  ·  35×

선물

present, gift

1  ·  35×

일어나다

to get up; to wake up

1  ·  35×

중요하다

to be important

2  ·  35×

창문

window

1  ·  35×

공

zero (in phone numbers and codes)

1  ·  34×

높다

to be high

1  ·  34×

사진을 찍다

to take a photo

2  ·  34×

앉다

to sit down

1  ·  34×

언니

older sister (of a woman)

1  ·  34×

역

station

1  ·  34×

늦다

to be late

1  ·  33×

바꾸다

to exchange; to change

2  ·  33×

생기다

to come into being, appear; to open (of a shop)

2  ·  33×

오래

for a long time

1  ·  33×

운동

exercise; sport

1  ·  33×

갑자기

suddenly

3  ·  32×

길을 잃다

to get lost; to lose your way

3  ·  32×

나라

country

1  ·  32×

도서관

library

1  ·  32×

따뜻하다

to be warm

1  ·  32×

말을 놓다

to drop the polite speech; to speak casually

2  ·  32×

먼저

first; ahead

2  ·  32×

방학

school holidays; vacation

2  ·  32×

벌써

already

2  ·  32×

보고 싶다

to miss (someone)

2  ·  32×

부하 직원

subordinate; member of your team

3  ·  32×

음악

music

1  ·  32×

제일

most; best; first

1  ·  32×

피곤하다

to be tired

2  ·  32×

힘들다

to be hard, tiring

1  ·  32×

가늘다

to be thin, fine, slender

3  ·  31×

결과

result; outcome

3  ·  31×

떨어지다

to fall, drop; to fail (a test)

2  ·  31×

맛있게 드세요

enjoy your meal

1  ·  31×

배우다

to learn

2  ·  31×

빵

bread; roll; pastry

1  ·  31×

적다

to be few, little

1  ·  31×

경기

match; game (in sport)

3  ·  30×

꽃

flower

2  ·  30×

놀다

to play; to have fun; to hang out

1  ·  30×

반

half; half past

1  ·  30×

밥을 하다

to cook rice; to make a meal

2  ·  30×

부르다

to sing; to call

1  ·  30×

사진

photo

1  ·  30×

싸다

to be cheap

1  ·  30×

오르다

to rise, go up

3  ·  30×

울다

to cry

1  ·  30×

잘하다

to be good at

1  ·  30×

편하다

to be comfortable; to be convenient

2  ·  30×

강

river

2  ·  29×

늘

always

3  ·  29×

밀다

to push

3  ·  29×

밥

cooked rice; a meal

1  ·  29×

사장님

the boss; company president

2  ·  29×

옆

side; next to

1  ·  29×

오후

afternoon; p.m.

1  ·  29×

입다

to put on, wear (clothes)

1  ·  29×

출발하다

to set off; to depart

2  ·  29×

케이크

cake

1  ·  29×

계속

continuously; on and on

3  ·  28×

김

dried laver, seaweed sheets

2  ·  28×

노래를 부르다

to sing (a song)

2  ·  28×

다니다

to go regularly; to attend

1  ·  28×

돕다

to help

2  ·  28×

맵다

to be spicy, hot

1  ·  28×

몰라요

I don't know

1  ·  28×

사과

apple

1  ·  28×

유명하다

to be famous

2  ·  28×

일주일

a week

2  ·  28×

입

bite, mouthful

1  ·  28×

전화하다

to phone, call

2  ·  28×

줄이다

to reduce, cut down on

3  ·  28×

천천히

slowly

1  ·  28×

치다

to hit; to play (with a racket or club)

3  ·  28×

그렇게 해서

in that way; that is how

3  ·  27×

다른

other, different

1  ·  27×

도착하다

to arrive

2  ·  27×

손을 들다

to put one's hand up

2  ·  27×

아기

baby

1  ·  27×

어떻게

how

1  ·  27×

잔

cup, glass (counter for drinks)

1  ·  27×

팀

team

3  ·  27×

함께

together (formal)

1  ·  27×

건강

health

2  ·  26×

건물

building

2  ·  26×

고양이

cat

1  ·  26×

고향

hometown; home region

2  ·  26×

그 밖에

besides that; apart from that

3  ·  26×

내리다

to get off, get out

1  ·  26×

놓다

to put; to place

2  ·  26×

버리다

to throw away

2  ·  26×

새로

newly; anew

3  ·  26×

선수

player; athlete

3  ·  26×

신발

shoes

1  ·  26×

아니에요

not at all; it was nothing

1  ·  26×

여러

several; various

2  ·  26×

요리

dish; cooking

1  ·  26×

운동하다

to exercise, work out

2  ·  26×

이제

now (from now on); by now

1  ·  26×

크게

loudly; in a big way

1  ·  26×

곳

place (counter for places)

1  ·  25×

누가

who (as the subject)

1  ·  25×

도시

city; town

2  ·  25×

말이 많다

to be talkative

2  ·  25×

발

foot

1  ·  25×

볼

cheek

1  ·  25×

부산

Busan

1  ·  25×

비행기

aeroplane

1  ·  25×

빨리

quickly, fast

1  ·  25×

생각하다

to think

2  ·  25×

알

counter for pills and small round things

1  ·  25×

올라가다

to go up

2  ·  25×

올해

this year

2  ·  25×

옷을 입다

to get dressed

2  ·  25×

의사

doctor

2  ·  25×

저도 그렇게 생각해요

I think so too

2  ·  25×

편

film; piece of writing (counter)

2  ·  25×

고기

meat

1  ·  24×

단어

word

1  ·  24×

드라마

TV drama; TV series

2  ·  24×

비

rain

1  ·  24×

사고

accident

2  ·  24×

씨

Mr, Ms (after a name)

1  ·  24×

이사하다

to move house

3  ·  24×

지갑

wallet, purse

2  ·  24×

내다

to pay (money); to hand in

1  ·  23×

대신

instead (of)

2  ·  23×

모든

every; all

2  ·  23×

무슨

what (kind of); which

1  ·  23×

물건

thing, object; belongings

1  ·  23×

봄

spring

1  ·  23×

어떻게 하면 돼요

what should I do? how do I do it?

2  ·  23×

예쁘다

to be pretty

1  ·  23×

우유

milk

1  ·  23×

웃다

to laugh; to smile

1  ·  23×

자리

seat; place

1  ·  23×

잠깐

for a moment

1  ·  23×

파

spring onion

2  ·  23×

그 후에

after that; afterwards

3  ·  22×

그러다 보니

as that went on; and so, over time

3  ·  22×

그런 것 같아요

I think so; it seems so

2  ·  22×

끝

end

2  ·  22×

넓다

to be wide; to be spacious

1  ·  22×

맞다

to be right, correct

1  ·  22×

머리를 감다

to wash one's hair

2  ·  22×

못하다

to be bad at

1  ·  22×

본

this (formal)

4  ·  22×

씻다

to wash

1  ·  22×

잠

sleep

2  ·  22×

준비하다

to prepare; to get ready

2  ·  22×

직접

in person; yourself; directly

3  ·  22×

하루 종일

all day long

2  ·  22×

확인하다

to check; to confirm

3  ·  22×

가격

price

2  ·  21×

가깝다

to be near, close

2  ·  21×

감기

cold (illness)

1  ·  21×

공항

airport

1  ·  21×

기차

train

1  ·  21×

노래

song; singing

1  ·  21×

대학교

university

2  ·  21×

바뀌다

to change; to be changed

3  ·  21×

부

copy (of a newspaper or a document)

2  ·  21×

불

light; fire

2  ·  21×

빌리다

to borrow

2  ·  21×

빠르다

to be fast; to be quick

1  ·  21×

소리가 나다

to make a noise, be heard

3  ·  21×

어서 오세요

welcome (said by staff)

1  ·  21×

열리다

to open; to be opened

2  ·  21×

운전하다

to drive

2  ·  21×

고장 나다

to break down, stop working

2  ·  20×

도

degree (of temperature)

1  ·  20×

병원

hospital; doctor's surgery

1  ·  20×

아파트

flat; apartment

2  ·  20×

이야기하다

to talk, chat; to tell

2  ·  20×

잃어버리다

to lose (something)

1  ·  20×

작년

last year

2  ·  20×

조용하다

to be quiet

2  ·  20×

지나다

to pass (a place); to go by

2  ·  20×

택시

taxi

1  ·  20×

나무

tree; wood

2  ·  19×

다리

leg

1  ·  19×

무겁다

to be heavy

1  ·  19×

배

belly, stomach

1  ·  19×

배가 아프다

to be jealous

4  ·  19×

서류

document; papers

3  ·  19×

책상

desk

1  ·  19×

카페

café

2  ·  19×

표

ticket

1  ·  19×

나누다

to divide; to share

3  ·  18×

누구

who

1  ·  18×

덕분

thanks to (something good)

3  ·  18×

비 오는 날

a rainy day

1  ·  18×

살이 찌다

to put on weight

2  ·  18×

소식

news (of someone or something)

3  ·  18×

알리다

to let (someone) know; to inform

3  ·  18×

열심히

hard, diligently

1  ·  18×

옛날

the old days; long ago

2  ·  18×

오래되다

to be old (of things)

1  ·  18×

인

person (in writing and set phrases)

2  ·  18×

제품

product (manufactured)

3  ·  18×

짓다

to build

3  ·  18×

항상

always

2  ·  18×

가수

singer

2  ·  17×

공장

factory

2  ·  17×

교통

traffic; transport

2  ·  17×

그림

picture; painting, drawing

2  ·  17×

글

piece of writing; text

2  ·  17×

끄다

to switch off

2  ·  17×

다섯

five

1  ·  17×

돈이 들다

to cost (money)

3  ·  17×

마지막

the last; the end

1  ·  17×

머리가 길다

to have long hair

2  ·  17×

모이다

to gather; to come together

3  ·  17×

보통

usually; normally

2  ·  17×

사무실

office (the room)

2  ·  17×

새롭다

to be new, fresh

3  ·  17×

쉽다

to be easy

2  ·  17×

약

medicine

1  ·  17×

어젯밤

last night

2  ·  17×

외국

foreign country; abroad

1  ·  17×

이거

this (spoken)

1  ·  17×

장

sheet (counter for paper, tickets, photos)

1  ·  17×

키가 크다

to be tall

2  ·  17×

편지

letter

2  ·  17×

피

blood

1  ·  17×

화장실이 어디예요

where is the toilet?

1  ·  17×

강하다

to be strong (in body or mind)

2  ·  16×

경찰

the police; police officer

2  ·  16×

과일

fruit

1  ·  16×

국

soup

1  ·  16×

그러지 말고

instead; rather than that

3  ·  16×

그렇게

like that; so

1  ·  16×

내년

next year

2  ·  16×

냉장고

fridge

2  ·  16×

늘다

to increase, grow; to improve

3  ·  16×

늦어서 죄송해요

sorry I am late

1  ·  16×

다시 한번 말씀해 주세요

could you say that again, please

2  ·  16×

다치다

to get hurt, injure

2  ·  16×

떠나다

to leave, set off

2  ·  16×

멀다

to be far

2  ·  16×

바로

right away; directly

1  ·  16×

바지

trousers

1  ·  16×

뻔하다

to be obvious, predictable

4  ·  16×

시간을 내다

to make time

3  ·  16×

시골

the countryside; the country

3  ·  16×

시청

city hall

3  ·  16×

식사

meal

1  ·  16×

약을 먹다

to take medicine

2  ·  16×

어떻다

to be how; to be like what

1  ·  16×

얼마예요

how much is it?

1  ·  16×

우산을 쓰다

to put up an umbrella

1  ·  16×

의자

chair

1  ·  16×

자르다

to cut

2  ·  16×

자전거

bicycle

1  ·  16×

전

before; ago

2  ·  16×

젊다

to be young (of an adult)

2  ·  16×

제주도

Jeju Island

1  ·  16×

지역

area; region

3  ·  16×

층

floor, storey

1  ·  16×

해가 나다

the sun comes out

1  ·  16×

행사

event

3  ·  16×

화가

painter; artist

2  ·  16×

가볍다

to be light (in weight)

1  ·  15×

가을

autumn

1  ·  15×

강아지

puppy; little dog

2  ·  15×

결혼하다

to marry, get married

2  ·  15×

구

nine

1  ·  15×

기분이 좋다

to be in a good mood

2  ·  15×

꽤

quite, fairly

1  ·  15×

넘다

to be over, exceed; to cross

2  ·  15×

닦다

to wipe; to clean; to polish

2  ·  15×

두세

two or three

1  ·  15×

라면

instant noodles, ramyeon

1  ·  15×

마음이 편하다

to feel at ease

3  ·  15×

미리

in advance; beforehand

2  ·  15×

밝다

to be bright, light

1  ·  15×

상자

box

1  ·  15×

서로

each other; one another

3  ·  15×

소

cow; cattle

2  ·  15×

실력

skill; ability

3  ·  15×

아침을 먹다

to have breakfast

1  ·  15×

어둡다

to be dark

1  ·  15×

영어

English (language)

2  ·  15×

예

yes (more formal)

1  ·  15×

의견

opinion; view

3  ·  15×

이게 뭐예요

what is this?

1  ·  15×

이르다

to be early

2  ·  15×

인터넷

the internet

2  ·  15×

졸업하다

to graduate; to finish (school)

3  ·  15×

천

thousand

1  ·  15×

텔레비전

television

1  ·  15×

호텔

hotel

1  ·  15×

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