Korean Dictionary
How to say "Ondol (floor heating)" in Korean
“Ondol (floor heating)” in Korean is 온돌 (pronounced "Ondol").
온돌
Ondol
Usage & Context
Korea's traditional radiant floor heating system, where heat from fires or modern pipes flows under the floor to warm rooms from below. Koreans traditionally sat, slept, and ate on heated floors. Modern apartments use water-based ondol (수온돌). The system is spreading globally due to its comfort and efficiency.
Example Sentence
온돌 바닥에 누우면 너무 따뜻하고 편안해요.
Lying on an ondol floor feels so warm and comfortable.
How to use 온돌 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Ondol (floor heating)” is 온돌, romanized as Ondol.
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 온돌.
Pronunciation Guide
온돌 (Ondol) sounds like "own-doll." "On" is like 'own' as in 'my own,' and "dol" is like 'doll' as in a toy doll.
More Example Sentences
Expressing comfort and preference for ondol in cold weather.
겨울에는 온돌 바닥이 최고예요. 정말 따뜻하거든요.
In winter, ondol floors are the best. They're really warm.
Describing the historical importance of ondol in architecture.
한국 전통 가옥에는 온돌이 필수적이었어요.
Ondol was essential in traditional Korean houses.
Appreciating the modern application of traditional heating.
요즘 아파트에도 온돌 시스템이 잘 되어 있어서 좋아요.
It's good that modern apartments also have good ondol systems.
Cultural Context
온돌 (ondol) is Korea's unique traditional radiant floor heating system. Historically, heat from a fire would flow through flues under the stone floor, warming the entire room from below. This meant Koreans traditionally sat, ate, and slept directly on the warm floor. Even today, modern apartments utilize a water-based ondol system (수온돌, su-ondol), providing a distinct cozy warmth that many Koreans cherish, especially during cold winters. It's a fundamental part of Korean home comfort and a key feature often highlighted in K-dramas showing daily life.
Editorial note
We review entries like 온돌 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
온돌 바닥.
Ondol floor.
온돌이 잘 들어오다.
The ondol heats well.
온돌에서 자다.
Sleep on the ondol floor.
Related Expressions
바닥 난방
badak nanbang
floor heating (general term)
찜질방
jjimjilbang
Korean bathhouse (often has heated floors)
아랫목
araetmok
the warmest spot on an ondol floor
구들
gudeul
traditional ondol flue system
More Culture Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Ondol (floor heating) and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
