Korean Dictionary
How to say "Mop" in Korean
“Mop” in Korean is 걸레 (pronounced "geolre").
걸레
geolre
Usage & Context
A mop is used for wet cleaning floors. The term 걸레 is commonly used in Korean households for floor cleaning. Many Koreans use mops after vacuuming for thorough cleaning.
Example Sentence
걸레로 바닥을 닦아요.
I clean the floor with a mop.
How to use 걸레 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Mop” is 걸레, romanized as geolre.
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 걸레.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce 'geol' like 'gul' in 'gull', and 're' like 'reh' in 'rent'. The 'ㄹㄹ' sound is a double 'l', similar to the 'll' in 'bell-ringer' but smoother.
More Example Sentences
Describing cleaning a surface.
식탁을 걸레로 깨끗이 닦았어요.
I wiped the dining table clean with a rag.
Dealing with a spill.
바닥에 물을 쏟아서 걸레로 닦아야 해요.
I spilled water on the floor, so I need to wipe it with a mop.
Praising a cleaning tool.
이 걸레는 물 흡수력이 좋아서 청소하기 편해요.
This mop has good water absorption, so it's easy to clean with.
Cultural Context
The word '걸레' can refer to both a general cleaning rag and a mop. For floor cleaning, '물걸레' (mulgeolle, wet mop) is often used specifically. Given that many Koreans prefer to sit or lie on the floor, keeping floors spotless is highly valued. It's common practice to vacuum first, then use a wet mop to remove fine dust and leave the floor sparkling clean, reflecting a meticulous approach to household hygiene.
Editorial note
We review entries like 걸레 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
걸레로 닦아.
Wipe it with a rag/mop.
걸레 좀 빨아줘.
Please wash the mop/rag.
걸레 어디 있어?
Where is the mop/rag?
Related Expressions
물걸레
mulgeolle
wet mop
닦다
dakda
to wipe/mop
청소하다
cheongsohada
to clean
행주
haengju
kitchen dishcloth/rag
More Daily Life Words
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