Korean Dictionary
How to say "Food Waste" in Korean
“Food Waste” in Korean is 음식물 쓰레기 (pronounced "eumsigmul sseuRegi").
음식물 쓰레기
eumsigmul sseuRegi
Usage & Context
Food waste management in Korea is very strict. Koreans must bag food waste separately and pay per volume through RFID bags. Korea has one of the highest food waste recycling rates in the world.
Example Sentence
음식물 쓰레기는 따로 분리해야 해요.
Food waste must be separated separately.
How to use 음식물 쓰레기 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Food Waste” is 음식물 쓰레기, romanized as eumsigmul sseuRegi.
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 음식물 쓰레기.
Pronunciation Guide
Say "Eum-shik-mul Sseu-re-gi." "Eum" is like "oom" in "boom." "Shik" rhymes with "sick." "Mul" is like "mool" in "pool." "Sseu" is a tense 's' sound followed by 'eu' (like 'uh' but with lips slightly pursed). "Re" is like "reh" in "red." "Gi" is like "gee" in "geese." The stress is fairly even across the phrase.
More Example Sentences
A reminder to oneself or a family member about household chores.
음식물 쓰레기 봉투를 사야 해요.
I need to buy food waste bags.
Discussing environmental habits or household budgeting with friends.
음식물 쓰레기를 줄이는 것이 중요해요.
It's important to reduce food waste.
Lamenting about waste in the food industry or after a meal out.
식당에서 음식물 쓰레기가 너무 많이 나와요.
Too much food waste comes out of restaurants.
Cultural Context
'음식물 쓰레기' (eumsigmul sseuRegi) is a term deeply embedded in daily Korean life due to the country's stringent food waste management system. Unlike general trash, food waste must be separated and disposed of in specific, often RFID-enabled, bags or bins, for which residents pay per volume. This system, while effective in reducing landfill waste, means that managing food waste is a constant consideration for households, influencing cooking habits and meal planning to minimize leftovers. It's a common topic in household discussions and public awareness campaigns.
Editorial note
We review entries like 음식물 쓰레기 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
음식물 쓰레기 분리수거
Food waste separation and collection
음식물 쓰레기통
Food waste bin
음식물 쓰레기 줄이기
Reducing food waste
Related Expressions
일반 쓰레기
ilban sseuRegi
General trash
재활용 쓰레기
jaehwalyong sseuRegi
Recyclable waste
음식물 처리기
eumsigmul cheorilgi
Food waste disposer
잔반
janban
Leftovers (often implying food waste)
More Environment Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Food Waste and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
