Korean for Elementary Learners: Talking About Your Relationship Status
Learn to say 'I'm single' or 'I have a partner' in Korean, ask others politely, and use the right terms for romantic relationships.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In Korean, talking about romantic relationships is common but requires the right vocabulary and politeness. This lesson teaches you how to state your own status—single or in a relationship—and how to ask someone else in a friendly, appropriate way. You will learn key phrases like '저는 솔로예요' (I'm single) and '저는 여자친구가 있어요' (I have a girlfriend), and understand how these differ from friendship terms. We focus on elementary grammar and practical conversation, so you can share your status naturally without confusion.
By the end, you can…
- state whether I am single or have a partner in Korean.
- ask someone about their relationship status politely.
- distinguish between romantic partner terms and friend terms.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
저는 솔로예요.
I'm single.
jeo-neun sol-lo-ye-yo
Use 솔로 (solo) for 'single' in casual conversation. It's a loanword and very common among young adults. The polite copula 예요 attaches directly to 솔로.
저는 여자친구가 있어요.
I have a girlfriend.
jeo-neun yeo-ja-chin-gu-ga i-sseo-yo
여자친구 means 'girlfriend.' The particle 가 marks the subject because 여자친구 ends in a vowel. A male speaker would typically use this sentence.
저는 남자친구가 있어요.
I have a boyfriend.
jeo-neun nam-ja-chin-gu-ga i-sseo-yo
남자친구 means 'boyfriend.' The particle 가 marks the subject because 남자친구 ends in a vowel. A female speaker would typically use this sentence.
애인이 있어요?
Do you have a partner?
ae-in-i i-sseo-yo?
애인 (ae-in) is a neutral term for a romantic partner, used for any gender. The subject particle 이 is used because 애인 ends in a consonant (ㄴ). Polite question with rising intonation.
남자친구/여자친구 있어요?
Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?
nam-ja-chin-gu / yeo-ja-chin-gu i-sseo-yo?
Choose the appropriate term based on the person you're asking. This is a common way to ask directly. The subject particle is often omitted in casual speech.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To say you have or don't have a partner, use the pattern '저는 [partner word]가/이 있어요/없어요.' 있어요 means 'there is/are' or 'I have,' and 없어요 means 'there isn't' or 'I don't have.' For example: 저는 여자친구가 있어요 (I have a girlfriend). 저는 남자친구가 없어요 (I don't have a boyfriend). To say you're single, you can simply say 저는 솔로예요. The subject particle attaches to the partner word: use 가 after a vowel and 이 after a consonant. So 여자친구가 있어요, 남자친구가 있어요, but 애인이 있어요 because 애인 ends in the consonant ㄴ.
When to use it
Use these phrases when someone asks about your relationship status or when you want to share it naturally. In casual settings with friends, you can drop 저는 and just say 솔로예요 or 여자친구 있어요. In more polite situations, keep 저는 and use the full form. To ask someone else, use 애인이 있어요? or the gendered version if you know which term fits. Avoid using 친구 (friend) for a romantic partner—it means a platonic friend. Note that 여자친구 is written and pronounced as one unit meaning 'girlfriend,' while 여자 친구 (with a space) can mean 'a female friend.' Context and spacing matter.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
민수 씨, 애인 있어요?
Minsu, do you have a partner?min-su ssi, ae-in i-sseo-yo?네, 여자친구가 있어요.
Yes, I have a girlfriend.ne, yeo-ja-chin-gu-ga i-sseo-yo.아, 그래요? 저는 솔로예요.
Oh, really? I'm single.a, geu-rae-yo? jeo-neun sol-lo-ye-yo.그렇군요. 좋은 사람 만나세요!
I see. I hope you meet a good person!geu-reo-kun-yo. jo-eun sa-ram man-na-se-yo!A little context goes a long way
In Korea, asking about relationship status is common among friends and peers, but it can be sensitive in formal or professional settings. Using 애인 is neutral and polite, while 솔로 is casual and often used by younger people. If you're unsure, it's safer to let the other person bring it up first. Terms like 남자친구 and 여자친구 are widely used regardless of age, though some older adults may prefer 애인 or 배우자 (spouse).
One thing to watch for
Using 친구 (friend) to mean boyfriend or girlfriend, as in '저는 친구가 있어요' to mean 'I have a partner.'
Try this instead: In Korean, 친구 means a platonic friend. To say you have a romantic partner, use 여자친구 (girlfriend), 남자친구 (boyfriend), or 애인 (partner). For example: 저는 여자친구가 있어요 (I have a girlfriend). If you say 저는 친구가 있어요, it means 'I have a friend,' not a romantic partner.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I'm single' in Korean?
Show a sample answer
저는 솔로예요.
This is the most common casual way to say you're single. You could also say 저는 애인이 없어요 (I don't have a partner), which is more neutral.
2Ask a male friend if he has a girlfriend.
Show a sample answer
여자친구 있어요?
This is a direct, casual question. You can add the friend's name or 씨 for politeness: 민수 씨, 여자친구 있어요?
3Translate: 'I don't have a boyfriend.' (for a female speaker)
Show a sample answer
저는 남자친구가 없어요.
Use 남자친구 for boyfriend and 없어요 for 'don't have.' The particle 가 marks the subject because 남자친구 ends in a vowel. You can also say 저는 솔로예요.
Use 솔로예요 for 'I'm single' and [여자친구/남자친구/애인]가 있어요 for 'I have a partner.' Remember that 친구 means a platonic friend, so choose your words carefully to avoid confusion.
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