Korean Dictionary
How to say "Pagan" in Korean
“Pagan” in Korean is 이교도 (pronounced "Igyo-do").
이교도
Igyo-do
Usage & Context
Pagan refers to followers of non-Abrahamic religions or folk religions. In Korean context, it often refers to traditional folk religion practitioners.
Example Sentence
이교도는 전통 종교를 믿습니다.
Pagans follow traditional religions.
How to use 이교도 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Pagan” is 이교도, romanized as Igyo-do.
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 이교도.
Pronunciation Guide
The '이' (i) sounds like 'ee' in 'see'. '교' (gyo) is like 'gyo' in 'gyoza'. '도' (do) sounds like 'doe' in 'dough'. The stress is fairly even across the syllables.
More Example Sentences
Someone introducing their religious identity.
그는 기독교인이 아니라 이교도라고 자신을 소개했어요.
He introduced himself as a pagan, not a Christian.
Discussing historical religious persecution.
고대 로마에서는 기독교인들이 이교도로 박해받기도 했습니다.
In ancient Rome, Christians were sometimes persecuted as pagans.
Classifying traditional folk beliefs.
일부 사람들은 샤머니즘을 이교도의 한 형태로 봅니다.
Some people view shamanism as a form of paganism.
Cultural Context
In Korea, '이교도' (igyodo) often refers to followers of traditional folk religions like shamanism (무속 신앙) or ancient polytheistic beliefs, rather than modern neo-pagan movements. It can sometimes carry a slightly outsider or non-mainstream connotation, especially from the perspective of major religions like Christianity or Buddhism. It's not a term frequently used in casual conversation unless discussing specific religious history or classifications.
Editorial note
We review entries like 이교도 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
이교도적인 믿음
Pagan belief
이교도 문화
Pagan culture
이교도 박해
Persecution of pagans
Related Expressions
무신론자
musin-ronja
Atheist
다신교
dasin-gyo
Polytheism
토속 신앙
tosok sinang
Indigenous/folk religion
이단
idan
Heresy/cult
More Religion Words
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