Korean Dictionary
How to say "Holy water" in Korean
“Holy water” in Korean is 성수 (pronounced "Seongsu").
성수
Seongsu
Usage & Context
Holy water is water blessed by religious authorities. In Korean churches, holy water is used in rituals and for spiritual purification.
Example Sentence
성수로 축복합니다.
We bless with holy water.
How to use 성수 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Holy water” is 성수, romanized as Seongsu.
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 성수.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce '성' (seong) like 'sung' in 'song' but with a slightly more open 'o' sound. '수' (su) sounds like 'soo' in 'soup'. The stress is typically on the first syllable.
More Example Sentences
Describing a baptism ceremony in a church.
신부님이 성수로 세례를 주셨어요.
The priest baptized with holy water.
Giving directions or describing a church feature.
성당 입구에 성수대가 있어요.
There's a holy water font at the entrance of the cathedral.
Explaining a religious purification rite.
성수를 뿌리며 죄를 씻는 의식을 했어요.
They performed a ritual of cleansing sins by sprinkling holy water.
Cultural Context
성수 (seongsu) specifically refers to 'holy water,' primarily used in Christian contexts in Korea, particularly in Catholic churches. It is water blessed by a priest and used for baptisms, blessings, and spiritual purification. You'll find 성수대 (seongsudae), or holy water fonts, at the entrances of Catholic churches for congregants to make the sign of the cross. While traditional Korean shamanism also uses purified water in rituals, it's generally not referred to as 성수, which carries a distinctly Christian connotation.
Editorial note
We review entries like 성수 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
성수를 뿌리다
to sprinkle holy water
성수대
holy water font
성수로 축복하다
to bless with holy water
Related Expressions
세례
serye
baptism
정화
jeonghwa
purification
물
mul
water
기도
gido
prayer
More Religion Words
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