Korean Dictionary
How to say "Bulgogi" in Korean
“Bulgogi” in Korean is 불고기 (pronounced "Bulgogi").
불고기
Bulgogi
Usage & Context
Marinated grilled beef, one of the most well-known Korean dishes internationally. The name means 'fire meat' (불=fire, 고기=meat). Beef is marinated in soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and pear for tenderness. A staple of Korean BBQ culture.
Example Sentence
불고기는 외국인들도 좋아하는 한국 음식이에요.
Bulgogi is a Korean food that foreigners love too.
How to use 불고기 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Bulgogi” is 불고기, romanized as Bulgogi.
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 불고기.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, '불' (bul), sounds like 'bool' in 'pool'. '고' (go) is pronounced like the English word 'go'. '기' (gi) sounds like 'gee' in 'geese'. The pronunciation is relatively straightforward for English speakers.
More Example Sentences
Recommending bulgogi to international visitors.
외국인 친구들이 한국에 오면 불고기를 꼭 먹여줘요.
When my foreign friends come to Korea, I always make sure they try bulgogi.
Describing the characteristic flavor of bulgogi.
불고기는 달콤짭짤한 맛이 일품이에요.
Bulgogi has an excellent sweet and savory taste.
Talking about making bulgogi from scratch.
집에서 불고기 양념을 직접 만들어서 먹었어요.
I made bulgogi marinade myself at home and ate it.
Cultural Context
Bulgogi, meaning 'fire meat,' is one of Korea's most internationally recognized dishes. It typically features thinly sliced beef marinated in a savory-sweet sauce of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and pear juice, then grilled or pan-fried. While beef bulgogi is most common, there are also pork (돼지불고기, dwaeji bulgogi) and chicken (닭불고기, dak bulgogi) variations. It's often served with rice and various side dishes (반찬, banchan).
Editorial note
We review entries like 불고기 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
불고기 먹을까요?
Shall we eat bulgogi?
불고기 맛집
A good bulgogi restaurant.
불고기 덮밥
Bulgogi rice bowl.
Related Expressions
갈비
Galbi
Grilled ribs (similar marinated meat dish)
돼지불고기
Dwaeji bulgogi
Pork bulgogi
고기
Gogi
Meat
양념
Yangnyeom
Marinade, seasoning
More Food Words
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