Korean Dictionary
How to say "Ssireum (Korean Wrestling)" in Korean
“Ssireum (Korean Wrestling)” in Korean is 씨름 (pronounced "ssireum").
씨름
ssireum
Usage & Context
씨름 is traditional Korean wrestling where two competitors grip each other's satba (cloth belt) and try to throw the opponent to the ground. It is a traditional 단오 and 추석 festival activity with the winner receiving a bull as a prize. 씨름 was designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018.
Example Sentence
단오 씨름 대회에서 우리 마을 선수가 이겼어요.
The player from our village won the Dano ssireum competition.
How to use 씨름 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Ssireum (Korean Wrestling)” is 씨름, romanized as ssireum.
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 씨름.
Pronunciation Guide
Ssireum is pronounced "ssee-reum." "Ssee" is like "see" but with a tense, double 's' sound, almost like a hiss before the 'ee'. "Reum" rhymes with "room" but with a soft 'r' sound, similar to the 'r' in "run." The stress is on the first syllable.
More Example Sentences
A family enjoying a traditional holiday activity.
추석 명절에 온 가족이 모여 씨름 경기를 봤어요.
During the Chuseok holiday, the whole family gathered to watch a ssireum match.
Explaining the nature of ssireum.
씨름은 한국의 전통 스포츠예요.
Ssireum is a traditional Korean sport.
Describing the qualities of ssireum athletes.
씨름 선수들은 힘과 기술이 모두 뛰어나야 해요.
Ssireum wrestlers need to excel in both strength and technique.
Cultural Context
씨름 (Ssireum) is a traditional Korean wrestling sport, recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Competitors wear a 'satba' (샅바), a cloth belt around the waist and thigh, and aim to throw their opponent to the ground using strength and technique. It's a popular activity during traditional holidays like Dano (단오) and Chuseok (추석), where village champions would compete, often with a bull as the grand prize, symbolizing prosperity and strength. It embodies community spirit and traditional athleticism.
Editorial note
We review entries like 씨름 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
씨름하다
To wrestle (in ssireum)
씨름 대회
Ssireum competition
씨름 선수
Ssireum wrestler
Related Expressions
샅바
satba
Cloth belt used in ssireum
레슬링
reseulling
Wrestling (general term, often refers to Western wrestling)
단오
Dano
Traditional Korean festival (often features ssireum)
천하장사
cheonhajangsa
Grand champion in ssireum (literally 'strongest under heaven')
More Holidays & Festivals Words
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