Korean Dictionary
How to say "Dalgona Candy" in Korean
“Dalgona Candy” in Korean is 달고나 (pronounced "Dalgona").
달고나
Dalgona
Usage & Context
달고나 is a traditional Korean honeycomb toffee candy made by melting sugar and mixing in baking soda. Street vendors sell it and challenge customers to cut out shapes without breaking them. It became globally famous through the TV series Squid Game.
Example Sentence
달고나는 뽑기라고도 불려요.
Dalgona is also called ppopgi in Korean.
How to use 달고나 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Dalgona Candy” is 달고나, romanized as Dalgona.
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 달고나.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce 'Dal' like the 'doll' in 'dollhouse', 'go' like the English word 'go', and 'na' like 'nah'. The stress is fairly even, but a slight emphasis can be placed on 'go'.
More Example Sentences
Recalling childhood memories of playing with dalgona.
어릴 때 학교 앞에서 달고나 뽑기 많이 했었는데.
When I was little, I used to play the dalgona shape-cutting game a lot in front of school.
Talking about a popular modern drink inspired by dalgona.
요즘 카페에서 달고나 라떼가 유행이에요.
Dalgona lattes are trendy in cafes these days.
Discussing the global popularity of dalgona due to a TV show.
오징어 게임 덕분에 달고나가 전 세계적으로 유명해졌어요.
Thanks to Squid Game, dalgona became famous worldwide.
Cultural Context
Dalgona, also known as 'ppopgi' (뽑기), is a nostalgic street snack for many Koreans. Vendors melt sugar with a pinch of baking soda, then press it flat with a shape in the middle. The challenge, famously depicted in 'Squid Game,' is to meticulously cut out the shape without breaking it to win another free dalgona. It represents a simple, sweet treat and a fun, low-stakes game from childhood.
Editorial note
We review entries like 달고나 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
달고나 뽑기
Dalgona shape-cutting game
달고나 커피
Dalgona coffee
달고나 맛있다
Dalgona is delicious
Related Expressions
뽑기
Ppopgi
Dalgona (especially the game aspect)
설탕
Seoltang
Sugar
길거리 음식
Gilgeori Eumsik
Street food
추억의 간식
Chueogui Gansik
Nostalgic snack
More Food Words
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