List of English words of Korean origin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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] | [11] | |
| Manhwa | manhwa 만화 (漫畫) | a style of Korean comic books, cartoons and animated cartoons (cognate with Japanese manga) | | [12] | |
| 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 | | [13] | |
| Sijo | sijo 시조 (時調) | an unrhymed three-verse poem (usually in six shorter lines in English translations) | [14] | | |
| Taekwondo | taegwondo 태권도 (跆拳道) | a Korean martial art | [15] | [16] |
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 | [17] | [18] | |
| Bulgogi | bulgogi 불고기 | a dish of thin beef slices marinated and grilled on a barbecue | [19] | [20] | |
| Galbi | galbi 갈비 | a dish of beef or pork ribs marinated and grilled on a barbecue | | | |
| Gochujang | gochu-jang 고추장 | Korean red chili paste | | [21] | |
| Kimchi | gimchi 김치 | a vegetable pickle that is the national dish of Korea | [22] | [23] | |
| Makkoli | makgeolli 막걸리 | an alcoholic drink made from fermented rice | | [24] | |
| Soju | soju 소주 (燒酒) | a distilled liquor, usually made from rice or sweet potatoes | [25] | [26] |
Clothing
| Word | Korean word | Explanation | Merriam-Webster | Oxford | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanbok | hanbok 한복 (韓服) | traditional Korean clothes | | [27] |
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 | [28] | [29] | |
| 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.) | [30] | [31] | |
| Hantavirus | Hantan-gang 한탄강 (漢灘江) | a genus of viruses transmitted by rodents (The rodents carrying the virus were collected near Hantan River.) | [32] | [33] | |
| 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.
