Korean Dictionary
How to say "Jeon (Korean Pancake)" in Korean
“Jeon (Korean Pancake)” in Korean is 전 (pronounced "jeon").
전
jeon
Usage & Context
전 is a savory Korean pancake made with various ingredients such as vegetables, meat, seafood, or kimchi and is a staple of holiday food in Korea. Making 전 for 설날 and 추석 is a major part of holiday food preparation. The sound of 전 sizzling in a pan is said to evoke feelings of nostalgia for Korean holidays.
Example Sentence
명절에는 다양한 전을 부쳐요.
We make various types of jeon during holidays.
How to use 전 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Jeon (Korean Pancake)” is 전, romanized as jeon.
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 전.
Pronunciation Guide
전 (jeon) is a single syllable. It sounds like 'jun' in 'jungle' or 'john', but with a softer 'j' and a vowel sound closer to the 'eo' in 'butter' or 'fun'.
More Example Sentences
A common Korean saying about the perfect rainy day meal.
비 오는 날에는 막걸리에 김치전이 최고죠!
On a rainy day, kimchi jeon with makgeolli is the best!
Recalling a specific type of jeon made by a parent during holidays.
명절에 엄마가 동그랑땡 전을 많이 부쳐주셨어요.
During the holidays, Mom made a lot of donggeurangttaeng jeon for us.
Expressing a personal preference for a specific type of jeon.
해물파전은 바삭하고 고소해서 제가 제일 좋아하는 전이에요.
Seafood pajeon is crispy and savory, it's my favorite jeon.
Cultural Context
전 (jeon) is a beloved category of savory Korean pancakes, often made with various ingredients like vegetables, meat, seafood, or kimchi. It's a quintessential holiday food for Seollal and Chuseok, with the sizzling sound of 전 frying in a pan often evoking warm, nostalgic feelings. Beyond holidays, 전 is a popular comfort food, especially on rainy days when it's traditionally paired with 막걸리 (makgeolli), a milky rice wine. There are countless varieties, from simple 김치전 (kimchijeon) to elaborate 해물파전 (haemulpajeon).
Editorial note
We review entries like 전 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
전을 부치다
To make/fry jeon
전 먹을래?
Want to eat jeon?
모듬전
Assorted jeon (a platter with various types)
Related Expressions
부침개
buchimgae
General term for Korean pancakes (often interchangeable with 전)
파전
pajeon
Green onion pancake
김치전
kimchijeon
Kimchi pancake
동그랑땡
donggeurangttaeng
Small, round meat/tofu patties (a type of jeon)
More Holidays & Festivals Words
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