Korean Dictionary
How to say "Catholicism" in Korean
“Catholicism” in Korean is 가톨릭 (pronounced "Gatollик").
가톨릭
Gatollик
Usage & Context
Catholicism is a significant branch of Christianity in Korea with a growing number of followers. Korean Catholics have contributed greatly to Korean society and culture.
Example Sentence
가톨릭은 한국에서 중요한 종교입니다.
Catholicism is an important religion in Korea.
How to use 가톨릭 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Catholicism” is 가톨릭, romanized as Gatollик.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 가톨릭.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'ga-tol-lik'. A loanword. Three syllables: 'ga' (like 'gah'), 'tol' (like 'toll'), 'lik' (like 'leek' shortened).
More Example Sentences
family
할머니는 독실한 가톨릭 신자예요.
Grandma is a devout Catholic.
wedding
가톨릭 성당에서 결혼했어요.
We got married at a Catholic cathedral.
religious service
가톨릭 신부님이 미사를 집전해요.
The Catholic priest conducts the Mass.
Cultural Context
가톨릭 (loanword) and 천주교 (native: 'Lord-of-Heaven religion') both refer to Catholicism. 천주교 is more formal/traditional. Catholic churches are 성당 (not 교회 which is typically Protestant). Korean Catholics have a history of persecution followed by Pope Francis's 2014 visit. Notable: having a 세례명 (baptismal name) like 마리아, 요셉 is common among Korean Catholics.
Editorial note
We review entries like 가톨릭 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
가톨릭 신자예요.
I'm Catholic.
성당에 다녀요.
I go to Mass (at a cathedral).
세례를 받았어요.
I was baptized.
Related Expressions
천주교
cheonjugyo
Catholicism (native term)
성당
seongdang
Catholic cathedral
신부
sinbu
Catholic priest
미사
misa
Mass
More Religion Words
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