Korean Dictionary
How to say "Sweet Potato" in Korean
“Sweet Potato” in Korean is 고구마 (pronounced "Goguma").
고구마
Goguma
Usage & Context
고구마 (sweet potato) is one of Korea's most beloved foods, eaten roasted, steamed, or used in desserts and snacks. Roasted sweet potato vendors are a common sight on Korean streets in autumn and winter. 고구마 is also used colloquially to describe someone who is frustratingly slow or dense.
Example Sentence
길가에서 군고구마를 사먹었어요.
I bought and ate a roasted sweet potato from a street vendor.
How to use 고구마 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Sweet Potato” is 고구마, romanized as Goguma.
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 고구마.
Pronunciation Guide
고구마 (Goguma) is pronounced 'Go-goo-mah'. 'Go' sounds like 'go', 'goo' rhymes with 'too', and 'mah' rhymes with 'pa'. The pronunciation is straightforward and flows easily.
More Example Sentences
Talking about favorite winter snacks with a friend.
겨울에는 군고구마가 최고 간식이에요.
In winter, roasted sweet potatoes are the best snack.
Ordering a drink at a cafe.
고구마 라떼 한 잔 주세요.
Please give me a sweet potato latte.
Expressing frustration about a slow or difficult situation.
너무 고구마 같은 상황이라 답답해 죽겠어요.
The situation is so 'goguma-like' (frustratingly slow/dense) that I'm dying of frustration.
Cultural Context
고구마 (sweet potato) is an incredibly popular and versatile food in Korea. Roasted sweet potatoes (군고구마, gungoguma) are a quintessential autumn and winter street food, often sold by vendors with portable drum ovens. Beyond snacks, sweet potatoes are used in various dishes, desserts, and even lattes. Interestingly, '고구마' is also used colloquially to describe a frustratingly slow, dense, or uncommunicative person or situation, much like how a sweet potato can be dry and hard to swallow without water.
Editorial note
We review entries like 고구마 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
고구마 먹고 싶다.
I want to eat sweet potato.
고구마 줄기 반찬.
Sweet potato stem side dish.
고구마가 목 막혀요.
Sweet potato makes my throat dry/chokes me up.
Related Expressions
감자
Gamja
Potato
밤
Bam
Chestnut
군고구마
Gungoguma
Roasted sweet potato
답답하다
Dapdaphada
To be stuffy, frustrating (related to 'goguma' slang)
More Food Words
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