List of English words of Korean origin

This is a list of words of Korean origin which have entered into English usage. One metric for determining this is whether they appear in mainstream English language dictionaries.

General

[edit]
Word Korean word Explanation Merriam-Webster Oxford Remarks
Chaebol jaebeol
재벌
(財閥)		 a large, usually family-owned, business group in South Korea (cognate with Japanese Zaibatsu) ✓[1] ✓[2]
Hangul hangeul
한글		 Korean alphabet ✓[3] ✗
Jeonse jeonse
전세
(傳貰)		 a long-held renting arrangement where tenants pay lump-sum deposit for usually two years ✗ ✗
Korea Goryeo
고려
(高麗)		 a historic dynasty of Korea (see Names of Korea) ✓[4] ✓[5]
Won won
원
(圓)		 the basic monetary unit of North and South Korea ✓[6] ✓[7]

Culture and martial arts

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Word Korean word Explanation Merriam-webster Oxford Remarks
Hapkido hapgido
합기도
(合氣道)		 a Korean martial art ✓[8] ✓[9]
Kisaeng gisaeng
기생
(妓生)		 (archaic) a female entertainer who pours drinks to guests and entertain them with songs and dances ✓[10] ✗
Manhwa manhwa
만화
(漫畫)		 a style of Korean comic books, cartoons and animated cartoons (cognate with Japanese manga) ✗ ✗
Mukbang meokbang
먹방		 an online broadcast in which a host eats food while interacting with the audience ✗ ✗
Ondol ondol
온돌
(溫突/溫堗)		 a system of underfloor heating ✗ ✓[11]
Sijo sijo
시조
(時調)		 an unrhymed three-verse poem (usually in six shorter lines in English translations) ✓[12] ✗
Taekwondo taegwondo
태권도
(跆拳道)		 a Korean martial art ✓[13] ✓[14]

Food

[edit]
Word Korean word Explanation Merriam-webster Oxford Remarks
Bibimbap bibimbap
비빔밥		 a dish of rice topped with sautéed vegetables, meat, egg, and chilli paste ✓[15] ✓[16]
Bulgogi bulgogi
불고기		 a dish of thin beef slices marinated and grilled on a barbecue ✓[17] ✓[18]
Galbi galbi
갈비		 a dish of beef or pork ribs marinated and grilled on a barbecue ✗ ✗
Gochujang gochu-jang
고추장		 Korean red chili paste ✓ ✓[19]
Kimchi gimchi
김치		 a vegetable pickle that is the national dish of Korea ✓[20] ✓[21]
Makkoli makgeolli
막걸리		 an alcoholic drink made from fermented rice ✗ ✓[22]
Soju soju
소주
(燒酒)		 a distilled liquor, usually made from rice or sweet potatoes ✓[23] ✓[24]

Clothing

[edit]
Word Korean word Explanation Merriam-Webster Oxford Remarks
Hanbok hanbok
한복
(韓服)		 traditional Korean clothes ✗ ✗

Ideology and religion

[edit]
Word Korean word Explanation Merriam-Webster Oxford Remarks
Moonie Mun Seonmyeong
문선명
(文鮮明)		 a member of the Unification Church, founded by Sun Myung Moon ✓[25] ✓[26]
Juche juche sasang
주체사상
(主體思想)		 a political thesis formed by the former North Korean leader Kim Il Sung which states that the Korean masses are the masters of the country's development ✗ ✗
Songbun seongbun
성분
(成分)		 a system of ascribed status used in North Korea, based on the political, social, and economic background of one's direct ancestors as well as the behavior of their relatives ✗ ✗

Other

[edit]
Word Korean word Explanation Merriam-Webster Oxford Remarks
Chobo chobo
초보
(初步)		 a novice ✗ ✗
Gangnam gangnam
강남
(江南)		 a regional district of Seoul popularized by 2012 chart topping single Gangnam Style by Psy ✗ ✗
Gosu gosu
고수
(高手)		 a person with great skill ✗ ✗
Hantaan virus Hantan-gang
한탄강
(漢灘江)		 a virus species transmitted by rodents (The rodents carrying the virus were collected near Hantan River.) ✓[27] ✓[28]
Hantavirus Hantan-gang
한탄강
(漢灘江)		 a genus of viruses transmitted by rodents (The rodents carrying the virus were collected near Hantan River.) ✓[29] ✓[30]
Hwabyeong hwabyeong
화병
(火病)		 a mental illness occurring when anger builds up in the mind without being vented ✗ ✗
Minjung minjung
민중
(民衆)		 the mass of the people (See also: minjung theology and minjung art) ✗ ✗
For a list of words relating to with Korean language origins, see the Korean derivations category of words in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ "chaebol". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  2. ^ "chaebeol". Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  3. ^ "hangul". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Korea". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Korea". Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  6. ^ "3won". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  7. ^ "won2". Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on September 28, 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  8. ^ "hapkido". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  9. ^ "hapkido". Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on January 9, 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  10. ^ "kisaeng". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  11. ^ "ondol". Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on September 30, 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  12. ^ "sijo". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  13. ^ "tae kwon do". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  14. ^ "tae kwon do". Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on January 9, 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  15. ^ "bibimbap". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  16. ^ "bibimbap". Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on September 25, 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  17. ^ "bulgogi". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  18. ^ "bulgogi". Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 12 January 2017.[dead link‍]
  19. ^ "gochujang". Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on April 16, 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  20. ^ "kimchi". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  21. ^ "kimchi". Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  22. ^ "makkoli". Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  23. ^ "soju". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  24. ^ "soju". Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  25. ^ "Moonie". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  26. ^ "Moonie". Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on September 26, 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  27. ^ "Hantaan virus". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  28. ^ "Hantaan virus". Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  29. ^ "hantavirus". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  30. ^ "hantavirus". Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
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