Korean Dictionary
How to say "Professor" in Korean
“Professor” in Korean is 교수 (pronounced "Gyosu").
교수
Gyosu
Usage & Context
Professors (교수) are highly respected in Korean society, holding a prestigious position that commands deference from students. Korean students address professors formally using the title '교수님' (Professor + honorific). Building a positive relationship with professors is important, as recommendations from well-regarded 교수 can significantly influence career opportunities.
Example Sentence
교수님께 질문하러 연구실에 갔어요.
I went to the professor's office to ask a question.
How to use 교수 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Professor” is 교수, romanized as Gyosu.
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 교수.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'gyoh-soo' — 'gyo' blends a soft 'g' with 'yo' (like 'yo' in 'yogurt'), and 'su' rhymes with 'sue.' In address form 교수님, add 'neem' at the end.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
교수님
gyo-su-nim
Add the honorific 님 when speaking to or about a professor — this is the only acceptable form in class or email
Casual (반말)
교수
gyo-su
Used only as a third-person reference or job title — never to address the professor directly
More Example Sentences
a student asking a question after lecture
교수님, 이번 과제 마감이 언제예요?
Professor, when is this assignment due?
a grad student complaining over coffee
저희 지도 교수님은 굉장히 엄격하세요.
My advising professor is extremely strict.
applying for graduate school or a job
교수님께 추천서를 부탁드렸어요.
I asked the professor for a recommendation letter.
Cultural Context
Korean students almost never address a professor without the 님 honorific — just saying '교수' to someone's face sounds rude, like calling a doctor by their last name only. Emails typically open with '안녕하세요 교수님, OO학과 OOO입니다' and end with '감사합니다.' The honorific particle 께 (instead of 에게) is also required when mentioning something you gave or asked a professor. Relationships with 지도 교수 (advising professors) carry real career weight — a strong recommendation from the right 교수 can open doors at Samsung, LG, or top grad programs abroad.
Editorial note
We review entries like 교수 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
교수님, 질문 있어요.
Professor, I have a question.
교수님 연구실이 어디예요?
Where is the professor's office?
교수님께 이메일 보냈어요.
I sent an email to the professor.
Related Expressions
선생님
seon-saeng-nim
teacher (K-12 or general)
강사
gang-sa
lecturer / instructor
조교
jo-gyo
teaching assistant
학생
hak-saeng
student
More Education Words
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