Korean Dictionary
How to say "Ballad" in Korean
“Ballad” in Korean is 발라드 (pronounced "Balladeul").
발라드
Balladeul
Usage & Context
A slow, emotional song often featuring powerful vocals. Popular genre in Korean music.
Example Sentence
발라드를 좋아해요.
I like ballads.
How to use 발라드 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Ballad” is 발라드, romanized as Balladeul.
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 발라드.
Pronunciation Guide
Say "Bal" like the beginning of "ball." Then "la" like "lah" (as in "la la la"). Finally, "deu" sounds like "duh" but with a softer 'd' and a very short, almost silent 'oo' sound at the end. The stress is on the first syllable.
More Example Sentences
Expressing a preference for a specific mood/weather.
비 오는 날에는 역시 발라드가 최고죠.
On a rainy day, ballads are the best, of course.
Commenting on a song's emotional content and lyrics.
이 노래는 슬픈 발라드인데 가사가 너무 좋아요.
This is a sad ballad, but the lyrics are really good.
Describing a common cultural activity.
한국 사람들은 노래방에서 발라드를 많이 불러요.
Koreans sing a lot of ballads at noraebang (karaoke).
Cultural Context
Ballads are incredibly popular in Korea, often dominating charts and being a staple in K-dramas for their emotional depth. They are characterized by slow tempos, melodic vocals, and often heartbreaking lyrics, making them perfect for expressing deep feelings. Many K-pop idols release ballads to showcase their vocal abilities beyond dance tracks, and noraebang (karaoke) sessions are incomplete without a few powerful ballads.
Editorial note
We review entries like 발라드 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
발라드 가수
Ballad singer
발라드 곡
Ballad song/track
슬픈 발라드
Sad ballad
Related Expressions
감성 음악
Gamseong Eumak
Emotional music (broader category)
OST
Oeseuti
Original Soundtrack (often features ballads for dramas)
댄스 음악
Daenseu Eumak
Dance music (antonym/contrast in style)
어쿠스틱
Eokuseutik
Acoustic (can be a style of ballad)
More Music Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Ballad and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
