Korean Dictionary
How to say "Shiver" in Korean
“Shiver” in Korean is 떨다 (pronounced "tteolda").
떨다
tteolda
Usage & Context
To shake due to cold. Shivering is a natural response to cold weather in Korea. People bundle up to prevent shivering.
Example Sentence
추워서 떨고 있어요.
I am shivering because it is cold.
How to use 떨다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Shiver” is 떨다, romanized as tteolda.
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 떨다.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 'tteol', starts with a tense 'tt' sound, similar to a hard 'd' but with more tension, like 'doll' but with a harder 't' at the start. The 'eo' vowel is like the 'u' in 'but'. The 'l' sound is a light 'l', almost like an 'r' in American English. The second syllable, 'da', is like 'dah' in 'dah-ling'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
떨어요
tteoreoyo
Polite present tense form.
Casual (반말)
떨어
tteoreo
Casual present tense form.
More Example Sentences
Expressing extreme cold.
너무 추워서 몸이 덜덜 떨려요.
It's so cold my body is trembling.
Reacting to a horror film.
무서운 영화를 보다가 나도 모르게 몸을 떨었어요.
I shivered unconsciously while watching a scary movie.
Feeling nervous before a public speaking event.
발표하기 전에 긴장해서 손을 떨었어요.
I trembled my hands because I was nervous before the presentation.
Cultural Context
'떨다' is a versatile verb in Korean, not just for cold. It's commonly used to describe trembling from fear (무서워서 떨다), nervousness (긴장해서 떨다), or even excitement. In K-dramas, you'll often see characters '덜덜 떨다' (shivering intensely) when they are scared or extremely cold, which emphasizes their vulnerability or the severity of the situation. It's a very common and expressive verb in daily conversation.
Editorial note
We review entries like 떨다 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
추워서 떨고 있어요.
I'm shivering because it's cold.
몸이 덜덜 떨려요.
My body is trembling intensely.
긴장해서 떨었어요.
I trembled from nervousness.
Related Expressions
추워하다
chuweohada
To feel cold
오들오들
odeulodeul
Onomatopoeia for shivering (often used with 떨다)
몸서리치다
momseorichida
To shudder, to recoil (from disgust or fear)
전율하다
jeonyulhada
To thrill, to shudder (from strong emotion like awe or fear)
More Weather Words
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