Korean Dictionary
How to say "Shaman" in Korean
“Shaman” in Korean is 무당 (pronounced "Mudang").
무당
Mudang
Usage & Context
A shaman is a spiritual practitioner in Korean shamanism who communicates with spirits. Shamans play important roles in healing and fortune-telling in Korean culture.
Example Sentence
무당은 영혼과 소통합니다.
The shaman communicates with spirits.
How to use 무당 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Shaman” is 무당, romanized as Mudang.
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 무당.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce '무' (mu) like 'moo' in 'moon', and '당' (dang) like 'dung' but with a softer 'd' sound, similar to the 'd' in 'door' but lighter. The stress is generally even, or slightly on the first syllable.
More Example Sentences
Describing a shaman's role in a community.
그 무당은 마을 사람들의 고민을 들어주었어요.
That shaman listened to the villagers' worries.
Discussing a K-drama plot point involving a shaman.
드라마에서 무당이 미래를 예언하는 장면이 나왔어요.
A scene where a shaman foretold the future appeared in the drama.
Recalling a family tradition or personal experience.
할머니는 중요한 결정을 할 때 무당을 찾아가셨어요.
Grandma visited a shaman when making important decisions.
Cultural Context
무당 (mudang) refers to a Korean shaman, typically a female spiritual practitioner who acts as an intermediary between spirits or gods and humans. They play significant roles in traditional Korean shamanism (무속신앙, musoksinang), performing rituals (굿, gut) for healing, fortune-telling, and appeasing spirits. While their presence in daily life has diminished, they are still sought out for specific issues and often appear as intriguing characters in K-dramas, reflecting their deep roots in Korean folklore and spiritual beliefs.
Editorial note
We review entries like 무당 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
무당집
shaman's house/temple
무당굿
shamanic ritual/gut
유명한 무당
famous shaman
Related Expressions
박수
baksu
male shaman
점쟁이
jeomjaengi
fortune teller
신내림
sinnaerim
shamanic initiation (receiving spirits)
무속신앙
musoksinang
Korean shamanism
More Religion Words
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