Korean Dictionary
How to say "Pastor" in Korean
“Pastor” in Korean is 목사 (pronounced "Moksa").
목사
Moksa
Usage & Context
Pastors are Protestant ministers who lead churches and provide spiritual guidance. Korean pastors are influential figures in their communities.
Example Sentence
목사님은 좋은 설교를 하십니다.
The pastor gives good sermons.
How to use 목사 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Pastor” is 목사, romanized as Moksa.
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 목사.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, '목' (mok), sounds like 'mok' in 'mock'. The second syllable, '사' (sa), sounds like 'sah' in 'sahara'. Combine them for 'mok-sah', with fairly even stress.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
목사님
moksanim
Adding '-님' (nim) is the standard polite address and reference for a Protestant pastor.
More Example Sentences
Describing a pastor's regular duty.
목사님은 매주 주일 예배에서 설교를 하십니다.
The pastor gives a sermon at the Sunday service every week.
Seeking spiritual or personal guidance.
어려운 일이 있을 때 목사님께 조언을 구했어요.
When I had difficulties, I sought advice from the pastor.
Expressing admiration for a pastor's character.
우리 교회 목사님은 성도들을 정말 사랑하십니다.
Our church pastor truly loves the congregation.
Cultural Context
목사 (Moksa) specifically refers to a Protestant pastor in Korea. Protestantism is a significant religion in Korea, with numerous churches ('교회') across the country. Similar to '신부님' for Catholic priests, '목사님' is the honorific and standard way to address or refer to a pastor, reflecting the high respect for clergy. Pastors often play a central role in their communities, not just religiously but also socially, and are influential figures.
Editorial note
We review entries like 목사 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
목사님께 기도 부탁드리다
To ask the pastor for prayers
목사님 설교
Pastor's sermon
목사님 심방
Pastor's visit (to a congregant's home)
Related Expressions
전도사
jeondosa
Evangelist/Preacher (often a junior minister)
장로
jangno
Elder (lay leader in Protestant churches)
집사
jipsa
Deacon (lay leader in Protestant churches)
교회
gyohoe
Protestant church
More Religion Words
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