Korean Dictionary
How to say "Sweet pancake" in Korean
“Sweet pancake” in Korean is 호떡 (pronounced "Hotteok").
호떡
Hotteok
Usage & Context
A popular Korean street food pancake filled with brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts. Fried until golden and crispy on the outside, with a gooey sweet filling. A beloved winter street food, especially in places like Insadong and traditional markets.
Example Sentence
겨울에 길거리에서 파는 호떡이 너무 맛있어요!
The hotteok sold on the street in winter is so delicious!
How to use 호떡 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Sweet pancake” is 호떡, romanized as Hotteok.
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 호떡.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 'Ho' (호), sounds like 'ho' in 'hot'. The second syllable, 'tteok' (떡), is pronounced with a tense 'tt' sound, similar to the 't' in 'stop' but with more tension, followed by the 'eo' vowel (like 'o' in 'love') and a soft, unreleased 'k'.
More Example Sentences
Expressing a common sentiment about seasonal treats.
겨울엔 역시 호떡이죠!
In winter, it's hotteok, of course!
Describing a typical experience at a street food stall.
줄 서서 호떡을 사 먹었어요.
I stood in line to buy and eat hotteok.
Praising the deliciousness of a freshly made hotteok.
꿀이 흐르는 호떡은 정말 최고예요.
Hotteok with honey flowing out is truly the best.
Cultural Context
Hotteok is a quintessential Korean winter street food, beloved for its crispy exterior and gooey, sweet filling of brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts. You'll often find vendors frying them on griddles in bustling areas like Insadong or traditional markets. Regional variations exist, such as Busan's ssiat hotteok (씨앗호떡), which includes seeds in the filling for added texture and nutrition.
Editorial note
We review entries like 호떡 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
호떡 먹고 갈래?
Wanna grab some hotteok?
호떡 하나 주세요.
One hotteok, please.
호떡은 겨울에 먹어야 제맛!
Hotteok tastes best when eaten in winter!
Related Expressions
길거리 음식
Gilgeori eumsik
Street food
꿀
Kkul
Honey (often refers to the sweet syrup filling)
씨앗호떡
Ssiat hotteok
Seed hotteok (Busan specialty)
붕어빵
Bungeoppang
Fish-shaped pastry (another popular winter street food)
More Food Words
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