Korean Dictionary
How to say "Volcano" in Korean
“Volcano” in Korean is 화산 (pronounced "Hwasan").
화산
Hwasan
Usage & Context
Korea's most notable volcano is Hallasan (한라산) on Jeju Island, an extinct shield volcano and Korea's highest peak at 1,950m. Jeju's volcanic landscape includes 오름 (orum — small volcanic cones), lava tubes, and unique rock formations. 백두산 (Baekdusan) on the North Korea-China border is a potentially active supervolcano.
Example Sentence
한라산은 화산 활동으로 만들어진 섬이에요.
Hallasan is an island formed by volcanic activity.
How to use 화산 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Volcano” is 화산, romanized as Hwasan.
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 화산.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, '화' (hwa), sounds like 'hwa' in 'flower' with a soft 'h'. The second syllable, '산' (san), sounds like 'sahn' in 'sandal,' with a clear 's' and 'n'. The stress is typically on the first syllable.
More Example Sentences
Describing a famous and significant volcano.
백두산은 북한과 중국 국경에 있는 활화산이에요.
Baekdusan is an active volcano on the border of North Korea and China.
Reporting a natural disaster.
화산 폭발로 인해 마을이 큰 피해를 입었어요.
The village suffered great damage due to the volcanic eruption.
Explaining the geological characteristics of Jeju Island.
제주도는 화산섬이라 독특한 지형이 많아요.
Jeju Island is a volcanic island, so it has many unique geographical features.
Cultural Context
While mainland Korea has few active volcanoes, '화산' is a significant term due to Jeju Island and Baekdusan. Jeju Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a volcanic island centered around Hallasan, famous for its unique '오름' (small volcanic cones) and lava tubes. Baekdusan, a potentially active supervolcano on the North Korea-China border, holds deep cultural and mythical significance for both Koreas, often appearing in historical narratives and national identity.
Editorial note
We review entries like 화산 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
화산 폭발
volcanic eruption
화산 활동
volcanic activity
화산섬
volcanic island
Related Expressions
활화산
hwalhwasan
active volcano
휴화산
hyuhwasan
dormant volcano
사화산
sahwasan
extinct volcano
분화구
bunhwagu
crater
More Nature Words
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