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	Template:Lang Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	a large, usually family-owned, business group in South Korea (cognate with Japanese Template:Lang)	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || ✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> ||
Hangul	Template:Lang Template:Lang	Korean alphabet	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || ✗ ||
Jeonse	Template:Lang 전세 (Template:Lang)	a long-held renting arrangement where tenants pay lump-sum deposit for usually two years	✗	✗
Korea	Template:Lang 고려 (Template:Lang)	a historic dynasty of Korea (see Names of Korea)	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || ✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> ||
Won	Template:Lang Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	the basic monetary unit of North and South Korea	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || ✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> ||

Culture and martial arts

Word	Korean word	Explanation	Merriam-webster	Oxford	Remarks
Hapkido	Template:Lang Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	a Korean martial art	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || ✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> ||
Kisaeng	Template:Lang Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	(archaic) a female entertainer who pours drinks to guests and entertain them with songs and dances	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || ✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>||
Manhwa	Template:Lang Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	a style of Korean comic books, cartoons and animated cartoons (cognate with Japanese manga)	✗	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>||
Mukbang	Template:Lang Template:Lang	an online broadcast in which a host eats food while interacting with the audience	✗	✗
Ondol	Template:Lang Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	a system of underfloor heating	✗	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> ||
Sijo	Template:Lang Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	an unrhymed three-verse poem (usually in six shorter lines in English translations)	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || ✗ ||
Taekwondo	Template:Lang Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	a Korean martial art	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || ✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> ||

Food

Word	Korean word	Explanation	Merriam-webster	Oxford	Remarks
Bibimbap	Template:Lang Template:Lang	a dish of rice topped with sautéed vegetables, meat, egg, and chilli paste	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || ✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> ||
Bulgogi	Template:Lang Template:Lang	a dish of thin beef slices marinated and grilled on a barbecue	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || ✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> ||
Galbi	Template:Lang Template:Lang	a dish of beef or pork ribs marinated and grilled on a barbecue	✗	✗
Gochujang	Template:Lang Template:Lang	Korean red chili paste	✓	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> ||
Kimchi	Template:Lang Template:Lang	a vegetable pickle that is the national dish of Korea	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || ✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> ||
Makkoli	Template:Lang Template:Lang	an alcoholic drink made from fermented rice	✗	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> ||
Soju	Template:Lang Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	a distilled liquor, usually made from rice or sweet potatoes	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || ✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> ||

Clothing

Word	Korean word	Explanation	Merriam-Webster	Oxford	Remarks
Hanbok	Template:Lang Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	traditional Korean clothes	✗	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>||

Ideology and religion

Word	Korean word	Explanation	Merriam-Webster	Oxford	Remarks
Moonie	Mun Seonmyeong Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	a member of the Unification Church, founded by Sun Myung Moon	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || ✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> ||
Juche	Template:Lang Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	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	Template:Lang Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	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	Template:Lang Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	a novice	✗	✗
Gangnam	Template:Lang Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	a regional district of Seoul popularized by 2012 chart topping single Gangnam Style by Psy	✗	✗
Gosu	Template:Lang Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	a person with great skill	✗	✗
Hantaan virus	Hantan-gang Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	a virus species transmitted by rodents (The rodents carrying the virus were collected near Hantan River.)	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || ✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> ||
Hantavirus	Hantan-gang Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	a genus of viruses transmitted by rodents (The rodents carrying the virus were collected near Hantan River.)	✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || ✓<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> ||
Hwabyeong	Template:Lang Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	a mental illness occurring when anger builds up in the mind without being vented	✗	✗
Minjung	Template:Lang Template:Lang (Template:Lang)	the mass of the people (See also: minjung theology and minjung art)	✗	✗

See also

• Lists of English loanwords by country or language of origin