Phrases for cafes

Say the drink, the number and 주세요 (juseyo): 아이스 아메리카노 한 잔 주세요 (aiseu amerikano han jan juseyo, "One iced americano, please"). Drinks are counted with 잔 (jan), so it's 한 잔, 두 잔. If the menu name is tricky, point at it and say 이거 한 잔 주세요 (igeo han jan juseyo).

For hot drinks, say 따뜻한 거 (ttatteutan geo, "the hot one") or simply 핫 (hat). For cold drinks, say 아이스 (aiseu). For example: 따뜻한 라테 주세요 (ttatteutan rate juseyo, "A hot latte, please") or 아이스로 주세요 (aiseuro juseyo, "Iced, please"). If staff ask 따뜻한 거요, 아이스요?, just pick one.

Size names vary by cafe, but 작은 거 (jageun geo, "the small one") and 큰 거 (keun geo, "the large one") are understood everywhere. Some cafes use English names like tall or grande, or regular and large. If staff ask 사이즈는요? (saijeuneunyo, "What size?"), point to the size on the menu.

매장에서 드세요? (maejangeseo deuseyo) means "Will you have it here?" Answer 네, 여기서 마실게요 (ne, yeogiseo masilgeyo, "Yes, I'll drink it here"), or for takeout, 가져갈게요 (gajyeogalgeyo) or 테이크아웃이요 (teikeuausiyo). Many cafes serve drinks in mugs or reusable cups for customers staying inside, instead of disposable plastic cups.

Say 샷 추가해 주세요 (syat chugahae juseyo, "Please add a shot"). For a weaker drink, ask 연하게 해 주세요 (yeonhage hae juseyo), and for a stronger one, 진하게 해 주세요 (jinhage hae juseyo). Extra shots usually cost a little more, so check the menu.

Ask 우유 대신 두유로 바꿔 주세요 (uyu daesin duyuro bakkwo juseyo, "Please use soy milk instead of milk"). Some cafes also offer options like oat milk, so you can ask 다른 우유 있어요? (dareun uyu isseoyo, "Do you have other kinds of milk?"). Some drinks can't be changed or may cost extra, so check with staff.

Say 시럽 빼 주세요 (sireop ppae juseyo, "No syrup, please") or 얼음 적게 주세요 (eoreum jeokge juseyo, "Less ice, please"). For something less sweet, try 덜 달게 해 주세요 (deol dalge hae juseyo). To skip the ice entirely, say 얼음 빼 주세요 (eoreum ppae juseyo).

Many Korean cafes hand you a small pager called a 진동벨 (jindongbel) after you order. When your drink is ready, it buzzes or flashes, and you pick it up at the counter. Some cafes show or call out order numbers instead. After finishing, it's common to return your cup and tray to the return area.

Ask 와이파이 비밀번호가 뭐예요? (waipai bimilbeonhoga mwoyeyo, "What's the Wi-Fi password?"). Many cafes print it on the receipt or post it near the counter or on the wall. To check whether there's Wi-Fi at all, ask 와이파이 돼요? (waipai dwaeyo, "Do you have Wi-Fi?").

In Korea, an electrical outlet is called 콘센트 (konsenteu), from the English word "concent." Ask 콘센트 있는 자리 있어요? (konsenteu inneun jari isseoyo, "Is there a seat with an outlet?"). People may not understand "outlet" or "socket," so this word is handy for charging your phone.

Ask 여기 자리 있어요? (yeogi jari isseoyo), meaning "Is this seat taken?" If it's free, they'll say 없어요, 앉으세요 (eopseoyo, anjeuseyo, "No, go ahead and sit"). In Korean cafes, people sometimes grab a seat before ordering, but avoid leaving your things on a table for a long time.

On self-order kiosks, you'll often see buttons like 매장 (maejang, eat in), 포장 (pojang, takeout), 주문하기 (jumunhagi, order), 결제하기 (gyeoljehagi, pay) and 취소 (chwiso, cancel). Many machines have a language button, so check the top or bottom of the screen. If you're stuck, ask staff: 키오스크 좀 도와주세요 (kioseukeu jom dowajuseyo, "Please help me with the kiosk").

Say 디카페인으로 주세요 (dikapeineuro juseyo, "Decaf, please"). Not every cafe has decaf beans, so you can ask first: 디카페인 돼요? (dikapein dwaeyo, "Do you have decaf?"). If you want to avoid caffeine altogether, ask 카페인 없는 음료 있어요? (kapein eomneun eumnyo isseoyo) and choose a tea or juice.

Hand over your tumbler and say 여기에 담아 주세요 (yeogie dama juseyo, "Please put it in here"). Some cafes give a discount for using your own cup, so you can ask 텀블러 할인 돼요? (teombeulleo harin dwaeyo, "Is there a tumbler discount?"). The word tumbler is simply 텀블러 (teombeulleo) in Korean.

Say 빨대 주세요 (ppaldae juseyo, "A straw, please") or 냅킨 좀 주세요 (naepkin jom juseyo, "Some napkins, please"). Many cafes keep straws, napkins and lids at a self-serve station near the pickup counter. Some use paper straws or only give them on request for environmental reasons.

Many cafes share a building restroom that has a door code. Ask 화장실 비밀번호 알려 주세요 (hwajangsil bimilbeonho allyeo juseyo, "Please tell me the restroom code"). Some cafes print the code at the bottom of the receipt, so check yours first. Staff may also hand you a key on a holder.

Say 이거 제 거 아닌 것 같아요 (igeo je geo anin geot gatayo, "I don't think this is mine") or 아이스로 시켰는데요 (aiseuro sikyeonneundeyo, "I ordered it iced, though"). Ending with -는데요 (-neundeyo) points out a problem gently. Showing your order number or receipt speeds things up.

Add it to your order: 이 케이크도 하나 주세요 (i keikeudo hana juseyo, "One of this cake too, please"). You can also point at the display and say 이거 하나 주세요 (igeo hana juseyo). To have it warmed, ask 데워 주세요 (dewo juseyo). At bakery-style cafes, you put items on a tray yourself and bring them to the counter.

Many people in Korea order a drink and study or work at cafes for a while. During busy hours, though, staying long can feel inconsiderate, and some cafes post time limits. If you plan to stay a while, ordering something more or asking 얼마나 있어도 돼요? (eolmana isseodo dwaeyo, "How long can I stay?") is polite.

Mostly yes. Drinks like americano, latte and cappuccino are used almost as is, pronounced the Korean way: 아메리카노 (amerikano), 라테 (rate) and 카푸치노 (kapuchino). Menus may spell them slightly differently; latte often appears as 라떼 (ratte). English usually works, but a Korean-style pronunciation is understood even better.