Definition
A story, tale, or conversation; something you tell or talk about with others.
Example
할머니가 재미있는 이야기를 들려주셨어요.
Show translation
Grandma told us an interesting story.
Etymology
이야기 is a native Korean word (고유어). It likely derives from the verb 이르다 ("to speak, to tell"), with the nominalizing suffix pattern fossilized over centuries of use. It covers both the act of talking (conversation) and the content of what is told (a story or narrative), making it remarkably versatile.
Cultural note
이야기 is deeply woven into Korean culture. The traditional oral storytelling tradition (이야기꾼, a professional storyteller) was a cornerstone of communal village life before modern media. Today the word appears everywhere: in titles of TV dramas, in everyday chat (이야기하다 = "to chat/talk"), and in literature. Note that 이야기 is warmer and more personal than the Sino-Korean 이야기 synonym 소설 (novel) or 설화 (legend) — it carries a cozy, fireside connotation. Don't confuse it with 말 (speech/words in general), which is more about language itself.