How to Say “How Much Is It?” in Korean: 얼마예요 (eolmayeyo)
“Eolmayeyo?” means “how much is it?” — the single most useful phrase for shopping and markets in Korea.
“Eolmayeyo?” means “how much is it?” — the single most useful phrase for shopping and markets in Korea.
얼마예요 (eolmayeyo) — how much is it?
How it feels and when to use it
“Eolma” (how much) + “-yeyo” (is). To say “this one,” point and say “igeo eolmayeyo?” (이거 얼마예요?, how much is this?). Prices come back in Korean number words — worth practicing.
Politeness levels
- 얼마야? (eolmaya?) — Casual (반말): with close friends and people younger than you
- 얼마예요? (eolmayeyo?) — Polite (해요체): the safe everyday level for most people
- 얼마입니까? (eolmaimnikka?) — Formal (합쇼체): in business, announcements, and to elders
Real examples from native Korean
Here’s how native speakers actually use 얼마예요 in real Korean:
- 얼마라고? — How much was it?
- 얼마나 멋있어요. — How cool
- 얼마나 좋아, 그쵸? — How nice would that be, right?
A common mistake to avoid
Sino-Korean numbers for prices — Korean has two number systems. Money uses Sino-Korean numbers (il, i, sam…), not native ones (hana, dul, set…). “Man” (만) = 10,000, the key unit for won prices.
Related expressions
- 이거 주세요 (igeo juseyo) — I’ll take this
- 깎아 주세요 (kkakka juseyo) — please give a discount
Want to hear 얼마예요 spoken by real Koreans? Search it on Langle and watch it across dozens of real video clips.
Frequently asked questions
- What does “얼마예요” mean in Korean?
- “Eolmayeyo?” means “how much is it?” — the single most useful phrase for shopping and markets in Korea. It’s romanized as “eolmayeyo.”
- Is “얼마예요” formal or casual?
- “얼마야?” is casual (반말); “얼마예요?” is polite (해요체); “얼마입니까?” is formal (합쇼체). Match the level to who you’re talking to.
- How do you pronounce “얼마예요”?
- It’s pronounced “eolmayeyo.” Sino-Korean numbers for prices: Korean has two number systems. Money uses Sino-Korean numbers (il, i, sam…), not native ones (hana, dul, set…). “Man” (만) = 10,000, the key unit for won prices.
- When should I use “얼마예요”?
- “Eolma” (how much) + “-yeyo” (is). To say “this one,” point and say “igeo eolmayeyo?” (이거 얼마예요?, how much is this?). Prices come back in Korean number words — worth practicing.
- What can I say instead of “얼마예요”?
- Try “이거 주세요” (I’ll take this) or “깎아 주세요” (please give a discount).