Korean Dictionary
How to say "Flood" in Korean
“Flood” in Korean is 홍수 (pronounced "hongsu").
홍수
hongsu
Usage & Context
Floods occur when water overflows onto normally dry land. Korea is susceptible to flooding during the monsoon season (장마). Flash floods caused by typhoons and heavy rains affect Korean communities annually.
Example Sentence
장마철에 홍수가 날 수 있어요.
Floods can occur during the rainy season.
How to use 홍수 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Flood” is 홍수, romanized as hongsu.
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 홍수.
Pronunciation Guide
홍수 (hongsu) is pronounced 'hong-soo'. '홍' (hong) sounds like 'hong' in 'Hong Kong'. '수' (su) sounds like 'soo' as in 'soon'.
More Example Sentences
A news report about a natural disaster.
갑작스러운 폭우로 도시 곳곳에 홍수가 났어요.
Sudden heavy rain caused floods in various parts of the city.
A warning message or conversation about traffic conditions.
홍수 때문에 도로가 침수되어 통행이 어려워요.
Due to the flood, the roads are submerged, making passage difficult.
A public announcement or community meeting.
매년 여름 홍수 피해를 막기 위해 대비해야 합니다.
We must prepare every summer to prevent flood damage.
Cultural Context
Floods are a significant annual concern in Korea, particularly during the summer monsoon season (장마, 'jangma') and typhoon season. News channels provide extensive coverage, often showing dramatic footage of submerged roads and rescue efforts. The government has implemented various flood control measures, but heavy rains can still cause localized flooding, making '홍수' a frequently heard and understood term, especially from July to September.
Editorial note
We review entries like 홍수 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
홍수가 나다
a flood occurs
홍수 피해
flood damage
홍수 경보
flood warning
Related Expressions
장마
jangma
rainy season (monsoon)
태풍
taepung
typhoon
침수
chimsu
submersion, inundation
폭우
pogu
heavy rain
More Environment Words
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