Korean Dictionary
How to say "Penalty" in Korean
“Penalty” in Korean is 페널티 (pronounced "penel-ti").
페널티
penel-ti
Usage & Context
A penalty is a punishment for breaking rules in sports. Penalties can include fines, suspensions, or loss of points.
Example Sentence
페널티를 받았어요.
I received a penalty.
How to use 페널티 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Penalty” is 페널티, romanized as penel-ti.
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 페널티.
Pronunciation Guide
The word "페널티" sounds like "peh-neol-tee". "페" is like "peh" in "pet", "널" is pronounced like "neol" (similar to "neural" but with a softer 'r' sound, closer to 'l'), and "티" is like "tee" in "tea". The stress is typically on the first syllable, "페".
More Example Sentences
Watching a sports game and explaining a referee's decision to someone.
심판이 그 팀에게 페널티를 줬어요.
The referee gave that team a penalty.
A player discussing a difficult game situation with teammates.
시간 지연으로 페널티를 받아서 경기가 더 힘들어졌어요.
We got a penalty for delaying time, making the game harder.
Explaining to a friend why you had to pay extra for a parking ticket.
주차 위반으로 페널티 요금을 내야 했어요.
I had to pay a penalty fee for a parking violation.
Cultural Context
Similar to "파울", "페널티" is a direct loanword from English "penalty" and is widely understood and used in sports contexts. However, its usage extends beyond sports to general situations involving fines or punishments for rule-breaking, such as "페널티 요금" (penalty fee) for late payments or contract violations. In K-dramas, you might hear the term "위약금" (wiyakgeum) which specifically refers to a penalty for breach of contract, a more formal Korean equivalent in legal contexts.
Editorial note
We review entries like 페널티 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
페널티 킥
penalty kick (in soccer)
페널티를 받다
to receive a penalty
페널티를 부과하다
to impose a penalty
Related Expressions
벌칙
beolchik
penalty, punishment (general term)
징계
jinggye
disciplinary action, sanction
벌금
beolgeum
fine (monetary penalty)
보상
bosang
compensation, reward (antonym concept)
More Sports Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Penalty and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
