Daily·Beginner·August 2, 2025·1 min read
어디 가요? — Where are you going?
The most common question you'll hear in Seoul. Learn how Koreans casually check in on each other — and why it's not as nosy as it sounds.
You're walking out of your apartment building and your neighbour spots you. Before you can say anything, she smiles and says:
"어디 가요?"
She's not actually demanding your itinerary. In Korea, this phrase is basically a warmer version of "Hey!" — a social ritual, not a question that needs a real answer.
The words
어디
Romanizationeodi
Meaningwhere
💡 Used alone it sounds casual. In formal speech: 어디에 (eo-di-e)
가요
Romanizationgayo
Meaninggoing / to go
💡 Polite present tense of 가다 (gada). Drop the 요 for casual speech: 가?
Hear it in action
Neighbourhood small talk
Outside an apartment building, morning
A
A
어디 가요?
Where are you going?B
B
아, 그냥 마트요.
Oh, just to the supermarket.A
A
그래요? 잘 다녀오세요!
Is that so? Have a safe trip!Cultural note
Koreans use 어디 가요? the way English speakers use "How are you?" — it's a greeting, not an interrogation. If a stranger asks, they're being friendly. If your parent asks, they might actually want to know. Context is everything.