Korean Dictionary
How to say "Goosebumps" in Korean
“Goosebumps” in Korean is 소름 (pronounced "soreom").
소름
soreom
Usage & Context
Bumps on skin caused by cold or emotion. Goosebumps appear when exposed to cold weather in Korea. A natural physiological response.
Example Sentence
추워서 소름이 돋았어요.
I got goosebumps because it is cold.
How to use 소름 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Goosebumps” is 소름, romanized as soreom.
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 소름.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 'so', is pronounced like 'so' in 'sore'. The second syllable, 'reom', sounds like 'reum' in 'rheum' but with a clearer 'r' sound, and the 'eo' vowel is like the 'u' in 'but'.
More Example Sentences
Reacting to an amazing musical performance.
그 가수의 라이브를 듣는데 소름이 돋았어요.
I got goosebumps listening to that singer's live performance.
Experiencing a sudden chill.
갑자기 찬 바람이 불어서 소름이 쫙 돋았어요.
Suddenly a cold wind blew, and I got goosebumps all over.
Watching a frightening movie.
공포 영화 보다가 너무 무서워서 소름 끼쳤어요.
I got goosebumps because the horror movie was too scary.
Cultural Context
'소름' is most commonly used with the verbs '돋다' (soreumi dotda - to get goosebumps) or '끼치다' (soreum kkichida - to cause goosebumps, often used reflexively like '소름 끼쳤어' meaning 'I got goosebumps' or 'it was creepy'). It's not just for cold; it's very frequently used to describe the feeling of awe, fear, or intense surprise, especially when something is incredibly good (like a K-pop performance) or incredibly creepy/scary. K-pop fans often exclaim '소름 돋았어!' when a performance is mind-blowing.
Editorial note
We review entries like 소름 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
소름 돋았어!
I got goosebumps! / That was amazing!
소름 끼쳐.
It's creepy. / I'm getting goosebumps.
추워서 소름이 돋았어요.
I got goosebumps because it was cold.
Related Expressions
소름 돋다
soreum dotda
To get goosebumps (common verb phrase)
소름 끼치다
soreum kkichida
To get goosebumps / To be creepy (common verb phrase)
닭살
daksal
Chicken skin (literal meaning, often used for goosebumps)
전율
jeonyul
Thrill, shudder (more formal, for intense emotional reaction)
More Weather Words
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