Korean Dictionary
How to say "Konglish" in Korean
“Konglish” in Korean is 콩글리시 (pronounced "Konggeullisi").
콩글리시
Konggeullisi
Usage & Context
English words adapted into Korean with modified pronunciation or altered meanings. Examples: 핸드폰 (handphone = cell phone), 아이쇼핑 (eye shopping = window shopping), 스킨십 (skinship = physical closeness). Konglish is ubiquitous in Korean speech and can be confusing for native English speakers.
Example Sentence
한국어에는 콩글리시가 정말 많아요. 처음엔 헷갈려요.
There's a lot of Konglish in Korean. It's confusing at first.
How to use 콩글리시 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Konglish” is 콩글리시, romanized as Konggeullisi.
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 콩글리시.
Pronunciation Guide
콩 (kong) sounds like "kong" in "King Kong." 글 (geul) is like "gull" but with a short 'u' sound, similar to "uh." 리 (li) is like "lee" in "lee." 시 (si) is like "see" but with a slightly softer 's'. Put it together as "Kong-geul-lee-see."
More Example Sentences
Explaining a specific Konglish term to a learner.
한국에서 '핸드폰'은 콩글리시예요. 영어로는 'cell phone'이라고 해요.
In Korea, 'handphone' is Konglish. In English, it's called a 'cell phone'.
A foreigner sharing their experience in Korea.
처음 한국에 왔을 때 콩글리시 때문에 많이 헷갈렸어요.
When I first came to Korea, I was very confused because of Konglish.
Pointing out a misleading Konglish word.
이 단어는 영어 같지만 사실 콩글리시예요. 의미가 좀 달라요.
This word sounds like English, but it's actually Konglish. The meaning is a bit different.
Cultural Context
Konglish (콩글리시) refers to English words or phrases that have been adapted into Korean, often with altered meanings or pronunciations, making them unintelligible to native English speakers. Common examples include 'skinship' (physical closeness), 'fighting!' (good luck!), and 'service' (freebie). It's a pervasive part of daily Korean communication, reflecting how English is integrated and reinterpreted within the Korean linguistic landscape. Understanding Konglish is crucial for navigating everyday conversations and media in Korea.
Editorial note
We review entries like 콩글리시 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
콩글리시 단어
Konglish word
이거 콩글리시예요
This is Konglish.
콩글리시 조심하세요
Be careful with Konglish.
Related Expressions
외래어
oeraeeo
loanword (broader term for words from foreign languages)
신조어
sinjoeo
neologism, newly coined word
영어
yeong-eo
English language
한국어
hanguk-eo
Korean language
More Culture Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Konglish and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
