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

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

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

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

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

Ideology and religion

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

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

References

  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.