Korean Dictionary
How to say "Baptism" in Korean
“Baptism” in Korean is 세례 (pronounced "Serye").
세례
Serye
Usage & Context
Baptism is a Christian sacrament of initiation into the faith. Korean Christians undergo baptism as a public declaration of their faith.
Example Sentence
세례를 받았습니다.
I was baptized.
How to use 세례 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Baptism” is 세례, romanized as Serye.
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 세례.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 세 (se), sounds like 'say'. The second syllable, 례 (rye), sounds like 'rye' as in 'rye bread'. Combine as 'say-rye'.
More Example Sentences
Sharing a personal religious experience.
저는 어릴 때 유아 세례를 받았어요.
I received infant baptism when I was young.
Describing a baptism event.
세례식은 교회에서 엄숙하게 진행되었습니다.
The baptism ceremony was solemnly conducted at the church.
Explaining the significance of baptism.
세례를 통해 새로운 신앙생활을 시작했습니다.
Through baptism, I started a new life of faith.
Cultural Context
세례 (serye) specifically refers to Christian baptism, a significant sacrament for many Koreans given the strong presence of Christianity in South Korea. It symbolizes a public declaration of faith and initiation into the Christian community. Many Korean Christians receive a '세례명' (serye-myeong), a baptismal name, particularly in Catholic traditions, which is often used within their church community. Baptism ceremonies are typically solemn and meaningful events held in churches.
Editorial note
We review entries like 세례 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
세례를 받다
To be baptized
세례를 주다
To baptize (someone)
세례식
Baptismal ceremony
Related Expressions
영세
yeongse
Baptism (often used in Catholic context, same meaning)
견진성사
gyeonjinseongsa
Confirmation (Catholic sacrament)
성찬식
seongchansik
Holy Communion, Eucharist
입교
ipgyo
Joining a religion, conversion
More Religion Words
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