Korean Dictionary
How to say "Cave" in Korean
“Cave” in Korean is 동굴 (pronounced "Donggul").
동굴
Donggul
Usage & Context
Underground caverns. Korea has spectacular limestone caves, including 고수동굴 (Gosu Cave) in Danyang and 환선굴 (Hwanseon Cave) in Gangwon-do — one of Korea's largest. Lava tubes (용암동굴) in Jeju Island, including 만장굴 (Manjanggul), are UNESCO-listed natural wonders.
Example Sentence
만장굴은 제주도의 유네스코 세계자연유산이에요.
Manjanggul is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site on Jeju Island.
How to use 동굴 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Cave” is 동굴, romanized as Donggul.
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 동굴.
Pronunciation Guide
The word '동굴' (Donggul) is pronounced 'dong-gool'. 'Dong' is like the 'dong' in 'dongle', and 'gul' sounds like 'gool' in 'cool', with a clear 'g' sound.
More Example Sentences
Suggesting a summer travel destination.
동굴 안은 여름에도 시원해서 피서지로 좋아요.
The inside of a cave is cool even in summer, so it's a great place to escape the heat.
Describing a famous tourist attraction.
제주도 만장굴은 세계적으로 유명한 용암 동굴이에요.
Jeju Island's Manjanggul is a world-famous lava tube cave.
Sharing an adventurous travel experience.
어두운 동굴 속을 탐험하는 것은 흥미진진한 경험이에요.
Exploring inside a dark cave is an exciting experience.
Cultural Context
Korea boasts several spectacular caves, making '동굴' a significant natural attraction. Gosu Cave (고수동굴) in Danyang is a well-known limestone cave famous for its intricate formations. Jeju Island, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, is home to impressive lava tubes like Manjanggul (만장굴), which offers a unique glimpse into volcanic geology. These caves are often developed for tourism, with well-maintained paths and lighting, allowing visitors to safely explore their natural beauty and learn about their geological history.
Editorial note
We review entries like 동굴 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
동굴 탐험
cave exploration
동굴 속
inside a cave
동굴 벽화
cave painting
Related Expressions
석회암 동굴
Seokhoeam donggul
limestone cave
용암 동굴
Yongam donggul
lava tube
탐험
Tamheom
exploration
지하
Jiha
underground
More Nature Words
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