Korean Dictionary
How to say "Oyster" in Korean
“Oyster” in Korean is 굴 (pronounced "gul").
굴
gul
Usage & Context
A shellfish prized in Korean cuisine and culture. Oysters are harvested in Korean waters and served fresh or cooked. They are considered nutritious and are featured in traditional Korean dishes.
Example Sentence
굴은 맛있어요.
The oyster is delicious.
How to use 굴 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Oyster” is 굴, romanized as gul.
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 굴.
Pronunciation Guide
"굴" sounds like "gool". The 'g' is like the 'g' in "go". The 'u' vowel is like the "oo" in "moon" or "pool". The 'l' is a clear 'l' sound, similar to the 'l' in "cool".
More Example Sentences
Discussing seasonal food and its quality.
겨울에는 굴이 제철이라 싱싱해요.
Oysters are in season in winter, so they are fresh.
Expressing enjoyment of a seafood delicacy.
생굴에 초장 찍어 먹으면 최고죠!
Eating raw oysters with chojang (spicy vinegared gochujang sauce) is the best!
Recommending a food and drink pairing.
굴전은 막걸리랑 잘 어울려요.
Oyster pancakes pair well with makgeolli (rice wine).
Cultural Context
Oysters are highly prized in Korean cuisine, especially during the winter months when they are in season and considered freshest. They are often eaten raw with 초장 (chojang, a spicy vinegared gochujang sauce) or prepared as 굴전 (guljeon, oyster pancakes) and 굴밥 (gulbap, oyster rice). Tongyeong, a city on the southern coast, is particularly famous for its high-quality oysters, making it a popular destination for oyster lovers.
Editorial note
We review entries like 굴 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
굴 먹으러 갈까?
Shall we go eat oysters?
굴 철이다!
It's oyster season!
싱싱한 굴
fresh oysters
Related Expressions
석화
seokhwa
rock oyster (often used for raw oysters)
굴전
guljeon
oyster pancake
해산물
haesanmul
seafood
초장
chojang
spicy vinegared gochujang sauce (often eaten with raw oysters)
More Animals Words
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