Korean Dictionary
How to say "Laundry" in Korean
“Laundry” in Korean is 빨래 (pronounced "Ppallae").
빨래
Ppallae
Usage & Context
Doing the wash. 빨래하다 (to do laundry) is a common household chore. Coin-operated laundry facilities (빨래방) are popular in densely populated areas. Drying laundry on a veranda or rack is common since dryers are less prevalent than in the West.
Example Sentence
오늘 빨래를 해야 하는데 귀찮아요.
I need to do laundry today but I'm too lazy.
How to use 빨래 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Laundry” is 빨래, romanized as Ppallae.
Usage tip
Practice this word inside a full daily-life sentence, because particles and sentence endings make the Korean sound natural.
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 빨래.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 빨 (ppal), starts with a tense, aspirated 'pp' sound, similar to 'pal' but with more tension in the lips. The second syllable, 래 (lae), sounds like 'lae' in 'ladle'. The double consonant 'ㅃ' is key here.
More Example Sentences
Complaining about weather affecting laundry drying.
비가 와서 빨래가 잘 안 말라요.
It's raining, so the laundry isn't drying well.
Deciding to do a large batch of laundry.
빨래를 모아서 한 번에 해야겠어요.
I should collect all the laundry and do it at once.
Informing someone about plans to use a coin laundry facility.
오늘 빨래방에 갈 거예요.
I'm going to the laundromat today.
Cultural Context
빨래 (laundry) is a common household chore. Many Koreans dry their laundry on a drying rack indoors or on a veranda, as clothes dryers are less common than in some Western countries. Coin-operated laundromats, called 빨래방 (ppallaebang), are popular, especially for larger items or in areas with limited space. The verb for 'to do laundry' is 빨래하다.
Editorial note
We review entries like 빨래 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
빨래 널다
to hang laundry
빨래 개다
to fold laundry
빨래 돌리다
to run the washing machine
Related Expressions
빨래하다
ppallaeda
to do laundry
세탁
setak
washing (more formal, often for machines)
건조기
geonjogi
dryer (appliance)
세탁소
setakso
laundry shop, dry cleaner
More Daily Life Words
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