Korean Dictionary
How to say "Head" in Korean
“Head” in Korean is 머리 (pronounced "meori").
머리
meori
Usage & Context
The most basic word for head in Korean. Used in everyday conversation and medical contexts. Essential vocabulary for describing body parts.
Example Sentence
머리가 아파요.
I have a headache.
How to use 머리 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Head” is 머리, romanized as meori.
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 머리.
Pronunciation Guide
Two syllables: 'meo-ri.' 'Meo' sounds like 'muh' (the 'eo' is a short 'uh' vowel) and 'ri' like 'ree.' Spoken smoothly: 'MUH-ree.'
More Example Sentences
Casual small talk about daily routines
요즘 머리를 자주 감아요.
I wash my hair often these days.
Venting to a close friend
머리가 복잡해서 잠이 안 와요.
My head is so full of thoughts I can't sleep.
Encouraging a student
그 문제는 머리로 풀어야 해요.
You have to solve that problem with your head (intelligence).
Cultural Context
머리 is a multitasking word: it means 'head' (the body part), 'hair' (especially for hairstyles — 머리 잘랐어? = 'Did you get a haircut?'), and 'brain/smarts' (머리 좋다 = 'smart'). This is why Koreans often clarify with 머리카락 when they specifically mean individual strands of hair. Saying 머리 아파 covers both physical headaches and stressful situations in the figurative sense, similar to 'this is giving me a headache' in English.
Editorial note
We review entries like 머리 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
머리 아파요.
I have a headache.
머리 잘랐어요?
Did you cut your hair?
머리가 좋아요.
You're smart.
Related Expressions
머리카락
meorikarak
Hair (strands)
두통
dutong
Headache (medical term)
머리숱
meorisut
Hair thickness / amount of hair
머리띠
meoritti
Headband
More Body Parts Words
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