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]	[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)

See also

• Lists of English loanwords by country or language of origin

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. "gisaeng". Oxford English Dictionary.
12. "manhwa, n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary". www.oed.com. Archived from the original on 2025-05-03. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
13. "ondol". Oxford Dictionaries . Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on September 30, 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
14. "sijo". Merriam-Webster Dictionary . Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
15. "tae kwon do". Merriam-Webster Dictionary . Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
16. "tae kwon do". Oxford Dictionaries . Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on January 9, 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
17. "bibimbap". Merriam-Webster Dictionary . Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
18. "bibimbap". Oxford Dictionaries . Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on September 25, 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
19. "bulgogi". Merriam-Webster Dictionary . Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
20. "bulgogi". Oxford Dictionaries . Oxford University Press. Retrieved 12 January 2017.^{[ dead link ]}
21. "gochujang". Oxford Dictionaries . Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on April 16, 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
22. "kimchi". Merriam-Webster Dictionary . Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
23. "kimchi". Oxford Dictionaries . Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
24. "makkoli". Oxford Dictionaries . Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
25. "soju". Merriam-Webster Dictionary . Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
26. "soju". Oxford Dictionaries . Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
27. "hanbok, n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary". www.oed.com. Archived from the original on 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
28. "Moonie". Merriam-Webster Dictionary . Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
29. "Moonie". Oxford Dictionaries . Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on September 26, 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
30. "Hantaan virus". Merriam-Webster Dictionary . Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
31. "Hantaan virus". Oxford Dictionaries . Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
32. "hantavirus". Merriam-Webster Dictionary . Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
33. "hantavirus". Oxford Dictionaries . Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.