Korean Dictionary
How to say "Heel" in Korean
“Heel” in Korean is 발뒤꿈치 (pronounced "baldwiggumchi").
발뒤꿈치
baldwiggumchi
Usage & Context
The back part of the foot. Used in medical and everyday contexts. Important for describing foot features and injuries.
Example Sentence
발뒤꿈치가 아파요.
My heel hurts.
How to use 발뒤꿈치 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Heel” is 발뒤꿈치, romanized as baldwiggumchi.
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 발뒤꿈치.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 'bal' (발), sounds like 'bahl'. 'Dwi' (뒤) is pronounced like 'dwee' in 'sweet'. 'Ggeum' (꿈) has a tense 'k' sound followed by 'eum' like in 'hum'. 'Chi' (치) sounds like 'chee' in 'cheese'. The double 'gg' indicates a strong, aspirated 'k' sound.
More Example Sentences
Complaining about discomfort from new footwear.
새 신발을 신었더니 발뒤꿈치가 까졌어요.
My heel got scraped because I wore new shoes.
Discussing foot care routine with a friend.
발뒤꿈치 각질 제거 크림을 발라야겠어요.
I should apply heel exfoliation cream.
Explaining difficulty walking due to a medical issue.
발뒤꿈치 통증 때문에 걷기가 힘들어요.
It's hard to walk due to heel pain.
Cultural Context
While '발뒤꿈치' is the precise term for the anatomical heel, the term '굽' (gup) is often used for the heel part of a shoe, especially high heels ('하이힐 굽'). In daily conversation, if someone has general foot pain, they might simply say '발이 아파요' (my foot hurts), but for specific discomfort or when referring to foot care products like heel balms, '발뒤꿈치' is used directly. It's a common area for calluses, which are often discussed in beauty and health contexts.
Editorial note
We review entries like 발뒤꿈치 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
발뒤꿈치 들다
to stand on tiptoes (literally, lift heels)
발뒤꿈치 굳은살
calluses on the heel
발뒤꿈치 보호대
heel protector/cushion
Related Expressions
발
bal
foot
발바닥
balbadak
sole of the foot
발가락
balgarak
toe
굽
gup
shoe heel (the part of the shoe)
More Body Parts Words
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