Korean Dictionary
How to say "Toenail" in Korean
“Toenail” in Korean is 발톱 (pronounced "baltop").
발톱
baltop
Usage & Context
The hard covering on the tips of toes. Used in medical and beauty contexts. Important for discussing foot care.
Example Sentence
발톱이 길어요.
My toenails are long.
How to use 발톱 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Toenail” is 발톱, romanized as baltop.
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 발톱.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, '발' (bal), sounds like 'bahl' as in 'ball' but with a quick 'l' sound at the end. The second syllable, '톱' (top), sounds exactly like the English word 'top'. When combined, the 'l' sound from '발' can slightly merge with '톱', but it's generally pronounced as 'bahl-top'.
More Example Sentences
Looking for a nail clipper at home.
발톱 깎아야 하는데, 발톱깎이 어디 있지?
I need to cut my toenails, where's the nail clipper?
Planning a beauty treatment for summer.
여름이라 페디큐어 받으러 갈까 봐. 발톱 예쁘게 하고 싶어.
It's summer, so I might go get a pedicure. I want my toenails to look pretty.
Describing a minor injury from sports.
축구하다가 발톱이 빠질 뻔했어요.
My toenail almost came off while playing soccer.
Cultural Context
Foot care, including toenails, is quite common in Korea for both hygiene and aesthetics. Pedicures (페디큐어) are popular, especially in summer, with many nail salons offering a wide range of designs. There's also a common Korean idiom, '발톱의 때만큼도 안 된다' (baltop-ui ttae-mankeum-do an doenda), which literally means 'not even as much as the dirt under a toenail,' used to express that something is utterly insignificant or worthless.
Editorial note
We review entries like 발톱 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
발톱을 깎다
To cut toenails
발톱이 길다
Toenails are long
발톱 무좀
Toenail fungus
Related Expressions
손톱
sontop
Fingernail
발
bal
Foot
발가락
balgarak
Toe
발톱깎이
baltopkkakki
Nail clipper (for toenails)
More Body Parts Words
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