Korean Dictionary
How to say "Taekwondo" in Korean
“Taekwondo” in Korean is 태권도 (pronounced "Taegwondo").
태권도
Taegwondo
Usage & Context
Korea's iconic martial art and Olympic sport, known for its emphasis on high kicks and fast strikes. Recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Practiced by millions worldwide. Korean children commonly take taekwondo classes. 태권도 literally means 'the way of foot and fist'.
Example Sentence
태권도는 한국의 대표적인 무술이에요.
Taekwondo is Korea's representative martial art.
How to use 태권도 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Taekwondo” is 태권도, romanized as Taegwondo.
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 태권도.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'tae-gwon-do' with three syllables: 'tae' like 'tay' in 'stay,' 'gwon' rhymes with 'swan,' and 'do' like 'doh.' The ㄲ doubles slightly so the middle syllable comes out crisp — think 'TAY-kwon-doh.'
More Example Sentences
Sharing childhood memories with a Korean friend
어렸을 때 태권도 도장에 다녔어요.
I went to a taekwondo dojang when I was young.
Listing accomplishments on a resume or intro video
태권도 검은띠까지 땄어요.
I got all the way to a black belt in taekwondo.
Chatting during the Olympics
올림픽 태권도 경기를 봤어요?
Did you watch the Olympic taekwondo match?
Cultural Context
Taekwondo is taught in nearly every Korean neighborhood at a 태권도장 (dojang), and it's extremely common for elementary schoolers to attend several days a week — the little yellow 태권도 buses ferrying kids after school are iconic. Belt ceremonies, not scores, mark progress: 흰띠 → 노란띠 → ... → 검은띠 (black belt). It became an official Olympic sport in 2000 in Sydney.
Editorial note
We review entries like 태권도 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
태권도 몇 단이에요?
What dan (black belt level) are you in taekwondo?
태권도 배우고 싶어요.
I want to learn taekwondo.
차렷, 경례!
Attention, bow! (dojang opening command)
Related Expressions
도장
dojang
Training hall / martial arts school
검은띠
geomeun tti
Black belt
품새
pumsae
Forms / choreographed patterns
겨루기
gyeorugi
Sparring
More Culture Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Taekwondo and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
