Korean Dictionary
How to say "Tongue" in Korean
“Tongue” in Korean is 혀 (pronounced "hyeo").
혀
hyeo
Usage & Context
The muscle in the mouth used for tasting and speaking. Important for eating and communication. Used in medical and everyday contexts.
Example Sentence
혀가 아파요.
My tongue hurts.
How to use 혀 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Tongue” is 혀, romanized as hyeo.
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 혀.
Pronunciation Guide
혀 (hyeo) is pronounced 'Hyuh'. It sounds like 'hyuh' (similar to 'yuh' in 'yummy' but with an initial 'h' sound, like a soft 'h' before 'yuh').
More Example Sentences
Describing a very spicy meal.
혀가 얼얼할 정도로 매운 음식이었어요.
It was so spicy my tongue felt numb.
Explaining a minor, painful accident.
말하다가 혀를 깨물었어요.
I bit my tongue while speaking.
Observing a baby's playful action.
아기가 혀를 낼름거려요.
The baby is sticking its tongue out.
Cultural Context
혀 (hyeo) is essential for taste and speech, and these functions are reflected in its common usage. Expressions like '혀가 짧다' (short tongue) can mean someone has difficulty pronouncing certain sounds or is speaking childishly. '혀를 내두르다' (to stick out one's tongue) can express surprise or amazement, often in a slightly exaggerated way, similar to 'jaw-dropping'.
Editorial note
We review entries like 혀 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
혀를 깨물다
to bite one's tongue
혀를 내두르다
to be astonished / to stick out one's tongue in amazement
혀가 꼬이다
to have a twisted tongue (e.g., from drunkenness or nervousness)
Related Expressions
맛보다
matboda
to taste
말하다
malhada
to speak
입
ip
mouth
깨물다
kkaemulda
to bite
More Body Parts Words
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