Korean Dictionary
How to say "Dip" in Korean
“Dip” in Korean is 담그다 (pronounced "damgeuda").
담그다
damgeuda
Usage & Context
Immersing food briefly in liquid. Used for dipping vegetables in sauce or soaking ingredients. Quick process that adds flavor.
Example Sentence
야채를 소스에 담가요.
I dip vegetables in sauce.
How to use 담그다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Dip” is 담그다, romanized as damgeuda.
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 담그다.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'dahm-geu-da' — 'dam' rhymes with 'Tom,' 'geu' is a short neutral vowel like the 'e' in 'the,' and 'da' ends flat. The 'g' is softer than in English, almost a 'k.'
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
담그다
damgeuda
Dictionary form — used in recipes and written instructions
Casual (반말)
담가
damga
Conjugated casual speech form: 'dip it' or 'I'm dipping'
More Example Sentences
serving dumplings to a guest
만두를 간장에 살짝 담가 드세요.
Dip the dumplings lightly in soy sauce and eat them.
describing kimjang preparation
김장 때 배추를 소금물에 담가요.
During kimchi-making season, we soak the cabbage in salt water.
giving self-care advice
발을 따뜻한 물에 담그면 피로가 풀려요.
Soaking your feet in warm water relieves fatigue.
Cultural Context
담그다 carries a deeper meaning in Korean than a quick dip — it's also the verb used for making fermented foods. Koreans 담그다 their kimchi (김치를 담그다), soy sauce (간장을 담그다), and traditional alcohol (술을 담그다), which implies setting something up to transform over time. When your Korean grandmother says '김치 담갔어' ('I made kimchi'), she literally means she 'dipped' the cabbage into brine and seasoning to begin fermentation — a usage that captures centuries of Korean food culture. For quick dipping at the table (like sauce with dumplings), the verb 찍다 ('to poke/stab in') is actually more common in casual speech.
Editorial note
We review entries like 담그다 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
김치를 담그다
to make (ferment) kimchi
소스에 찍어 먹다
to dip in sauce and eat
물에 담가 두다
to leave (something) soaking in water
Related Expressions
찍다
jjikda
to dip (briefly, in sauce)
적시다
jeoksida
to wet / moisten
절이다
jeorida
to pickle / salt-cure
우리다
urida
to steep / infuse
More Cooking Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Dip and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
