Korean Dictionary
How to say "Sneakers" in Korean
“Sneakers” in Korean is 운동화 (pronounced "undong-hwa").
운동화
undong-hwa
Usage & Context
Casual athletic shoes worn for comfort and sports in Korea. Popular for everyday casual wear among all ages.
Example Sentence
운동화는 편해요.
Sneakers are comfortable.
How to use 운동화 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Sneakers” is 운동화, romanized as undong-hwa.
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 운동화.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable 'un' (운) sounds like 'oon' in 'moon'. 'dong' (동) is like 'dong' in 'dongle'. 'hwa' (화) sounds like 'hwa' in 'flower' (without the 'fl'). Combine them as 'oon-DONG-hwa', with emphasis on 'DONG'.
More Example Sentences
Deciding on comfortable footwear for a casual outing.
편하게 운동화 신고 갈게요.
I'll just wear sneakers for comfort.
Expressing a need for new shoes.
새 운동화가 필요해요. 너무 낡았어요.
I need new sneakers. They're too old.
Asking about current fashion trends.
요즘 유행하는 운동화는 뭐예요?
What sneakers are in style these days?
Cultural Context
'운동화' are incredibly popular in Korea for all ages, not just for sports but as everyday casual footwear. Korean fashion often blends comfortable '운동화' with more formal or semi-formal outfits, creating a chic, relaxed look. There's a huge market for trendy and limited-edition sneakers, with many young people keenly following new releases. K-pop idols and actors frequently feature '운동화' in their styling, heavily influencing trends.
Editorial note
We review entries like 운동화 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
운동화 신다
To wear sneakers
편한 운동화
Comfortable sneakers
브랜드 운동화
Brand-name sneakers
Related Expressions
신발
sinbal
Shoes (general term)
구두
gudu
Dress shoes
하이힐
haihil
High heels
러닝화
reoning-hwa
Running shoes (more specific athletic shoe)
More Clothing Words
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