Korean Dictionary
How to say "Black" in Korean
“Black” in Korean is 검정 (pronounced "Geomjeong").
검정
Geomjeong
Usage & Context
Geomjeong is the Korean word for black. Black is associated with formality and elegance in Korean culture. It is commonly worn in professional and formal settings.
Example Sentence
검정 구두가 필요해요.
I need black shoes.
How to use 검정 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Black” is 검정, romanized as Geomjeong.
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 검정.
Pronunciation Guide
For 검정 (geom-jeong), 'geom' sounds like 'gum' (as in chewing gum), and 'jeong' sounds like 'jung' in 'jungle'. The pronunciation is 'gum-jung'.
More Example Sentences
Describing personal fashion preference.
검정색 옷을 자주 입어요.
I often wear black clothes.
Describing a vehicle.
그는 검정색 차를 몰고 왔어요.
He drove a black car.
Discussing color theory or fashion advice.
검정색은 어떤 색과도 잘 어울려요.
Black goes well with any color.
Cultural Context
In Korea, '검정 (geomjeong)' or '검은색 (geomeunsaek)' is a color with significant cultural weight. It is strongly associated with formality, elegance, and professionalism, often seen in business attire, traditional hanbok for solemn occasions, and luxury fashion. It also symbolizes mourning, making black the standard color for funeral attire. In K-fashion and K-pop styling, black is a perennial favorite for its chic, sophisticated, and often edgy appeal, as well as its slimming effect.
Editorial note
We review entries like 검정 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
검정색
black color (often used as an adjective, e.g., 검정색 옷)
검정 옷
black clothes
검정 커피
black coffee (coffee without milk/sugar)
Related Expressions
하양
hayang
white (noun)
빨강
ppalgang
red (noun)
파랑
parang
blue (noun)
어둡다
eodupda
to be dark (adjective)
More Colors and Shapes Words
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