Korean Dictionary
How to say "U-Turn" in Korean
“U-Turn” in Korean is 유턴 (pronounced "yuteon").
유턴
yuteon
Usage & Context
유턴 is permitted at many Korean intersections but is strictly regulated by signage and traffic laws. Making an illegal 유턴 in Korea can result in substantial traffic fines. Korean navigation apps will suggest 유턴 points when recalculating a route.
Example Sentence
유턴해서 반대 방향으로 가세요.
Do a U-turn and go in the opposite direction.
How to use 유턴 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “U-Turn” is 유턴, romanized as yuteon.
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 유턴.
Pronunciation Guide
"Yu" sounds like "yoo" (as in "you"). "Teon" sounds like "turn" (as in "turn the page"). It's a direct phonetic borrowing from English "U-turn."
More Example Sentences
Asking about U-turn legality at an intersection.
여기서 유턴 가능해요?
Is a U-turn possible here?
Following GPS instructions.
내비게이션이 다음 교차로에서 유턴하라고 하네요.
The navigation system says to make a U-turn at the next intersection.
Confessing to a traffic violation.
불법 유턴으로 벌금을 냈어요.
I paid a fine for an illegal U-turn.
Cultural Context
In Korea, U-turns (유턴) are often permitted, but only at specific locations indicated by a "유턴" sign, sometimes with additional conditions like "좌회전 시" (when turning left) or "보행 신호 시" (during pedestrian signal). Making a U-turn where it's not explicitly allowed can result in a significant fine. Always look for the sign!
Editorial note
We review entries like 유턴 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
유턴 가능
U-turn possible/allowed
유턴 금지
U-turn prohibited
유턴하세요
Please make a U-turn.
Related Expressions
좌회전
jwahoejon
turn left
우회전
uhoejon
turn right
직진
jikjin
go straight
회전교차로
hoejongyocharo
roundabout
More Transportation Words
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