Korean Dictionary
How to say "Garlic" in Korean
“Garlic” in Korean is 마늘 (pronounced "Maneul").
마늘
Maneul
Usage & Context
An indispensable ingredient in Korean cuisine. Korea is one of the world's largest consumers of garlic per capita. Raw garlic is eaten as banchan, and it's a key component of kimchi, marinades, and stews. Korea even has a garlic festival celebrating its cultural significance.
Example Sentence
한국 음식에는 마늘이 정말 많이 들어가요.
Korean food contains really a lot of garlic.
How to use 마늘 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Garlic” is 마늘, romanized as Maneul.
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 마늘.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 'Ma', sounds like 'mah' in 'mama'. The second syllable, 'neul', sounds like 'nool' in 'pool' but with an 'n' sound. The 'l' is a light 'l' sound, similar to the 'l' in 'bell'. Stress is fairly even across the syllables.
More Example Sentences
Giving a cooking tip for a traditional dish.
김치 만들 때 마늘을 많이 넣어야 맛있어요.
When making kimchi, you need to add a lot of garlic for it to be delicious.
Recommending a popular pairing at Korean BBQ.
삼겹살 먹을 때 마늘 구워서 같이 먹으면 최고예요.
When eating samgyeopsal, grilling garlic and eating it together is the best.
Discussing the health benefits of garlic.
마늘은 건강에 좋다고 하던데요.
They say garlic is good for your health.
Cultural Context
마늘 (Maneul) is an indispensable cornerstone of Korean cuisine, used in almost every savory dish. Koreans consume a vast amount of garlic, often eating raw cloves with Korean BBQ or incorporating it heavily into kimchi, marinades, and stews. Its pungent, robust flavor is a defining characteristic of Korean food, contributing to its unique depth and aroma.
Editorial note
We review entries like 마늘 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
마늘 까다
To peel garlic
마늘 냄새
Garlic smell
마늘 한 쪽
A clove of garlic
Related Expressions
다진 마늘
Dajin maneul
Minced garlic
마늘 장아찌
Maneul jangajji
Pickled garlic
생강
Saenggang
Ginger (another common aromatic)
양파
Yangpa
Onion (another common aromatic)
More Food Words
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