English to Korean Casual — Sound Like a Friend Without Being Rude
Queries like "english to korean casual" or "translate to casual korean" come from learners who want to text friends naturally. Casual Korean (반말) is warm and simple, but it can also feel rude if you use it with the wrong person. Use this guide to keep it natural.
When Casual Korean Is Okay
- Close friends or classmates the same age
- Younger siblings or cousins
- Romantic partners
- Group chats where everyone already uses 반말
If you're not sure, don't guess — pick the Polite tone in the translator first.
Casual Korean Building Blocks
- Drop "요" and formal endings.
- Use soft endings like "-해", "-해봐", "-해줘" instead of "-합니다".
- Keep subjects short or implied: "너", "나", or just the verb.
Examples
- "What are you doing?" → 뭐 해?
- "Text me later." → 나중에 문자해.
- "I'm on my way." → 가는 중이야.
Common Mistakes People Make
1) Using 반말 with strangers or elders because an app gave it — feels disrespectful.
2) Copying business phrases like "확인 부탁드립니다" into a friend chat — sounds robotic.
3) Forgetting softeners like "좀" or emojis, making the message look bossy.
Casual Alternatives for Popular English Lines
| English | Natural Casual Korean | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| "Can you send it?" | 그거 보내줄래? | Softer than 명령형 |
| "Let's hang out." | 같이 놀자. | Invite, not command |
| "I'm so tired." | 너무 피곤해. | Simple, no 요 |
| "That was awesome." | 진짜 대박이었어. | Adds excitement |
| "Call me later." | 이따 전화해 줘. | "줘" softens request |
Tone Switch Trick
Write your draft in English, paste it into the translator at translateenglishtokorean.com, and choose "Casual". If you need to step up to polite (존댓말) mid-chat — for example, when a friend's parent joins — just resend with the Polite tone.
Link Up for More Tone Help
- Honorific basics: [/honorifics](/honorifics)
- Fan letters (always polite): [/fan-letter-translation](/fan-letter-translation)
- Tattoos (poetic, not casual commands): [/tattoo-translation](/tattoo-translation)
Use the right tone, and your "english to korean" texts will feel like you're actually there in the conversation.