Korean Dictionary

How to say "Drought" in Korean

Drought” in Korean is 가뭄 (pronounced "gamum").

가뭄

gamum

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IntermediateEnvironment

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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