Korean Dictionary
How to say "Drought" in Korean
“Drought” in Korean is 가뭄 (pronounced "gamum").
가뭄
gamum
Usage & Context
Drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall. Korea experiences occasional droughts that affect agriculture and water supply. Climate change may increase the frequency and severity of droughts in Korea.
Example Sentence
가뭄이 계속되면 농업에 큰 피해가 와요.
If drought continues, agriculture suffers greatly.
How to use 가뭄 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Drought” is 가뭄, romanized as gamum.
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 가뭄.
Pronunciation Guide
가뭄 (gamum) is pronounced 'gah-moom'. '가' (ga) sounds like 'gah' as in 'garden'. '뭄' (mum) sounds like 'moom' as in 'moon' but with an 'm' at the end.
More Example Sentences
Farmers discussing the impact of weather on their harvest.
올해는 가뭄이 심해서 농작물 수확량이 줄었어요.
This year, the drought was severe, so crop yields decreased.
A news report on environmental issues.
계속되는 가뭄으로 물 부족 현상이 심화되고 있어요.
Due to the ongoing drought, water shortages are worsening.
A public service announcement or community discussion.
가뭄을 극복하기 위해 모두가 물을 아껴 써야 해요.
To overcome the drought, everyone needs to conserve water.
Cultural Context
Droughts are a recurring concern in Korea, especially impacting agriculture and water reservoirs. During prolonged dry spells, news channels frequently report on water levels, and local governments often issue water conservation advisories. The term '가뭄' is widely understood and often evokes images of dry fields and worried farmers, reflecting its direct impact on daily life and the economy.
Editorial note
We review entries like 가뭄 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
가뭄이 들다
a drought occurs
가뭄 피해
drought damage
극심한 가뭄
severe drought
Related Expressions
물 부족
mul bujok
water shortage
농작물 피해
nongjakmul pihae
crop damage
기후 변화
gihu byeonhwa
climate change
장마
jangma
rainy season (monsoon)
More Environment Words
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