Korean Dictionary
How to say "World Cup" in Korean
“World Cup” in Korean is 월드컵 (pronounced "woldeu-keop").
월드컵
woldeu-keop
Usage & Context
The World Cup is the international championship for soccer held every four years. Korea has participated in multiple World Cups with strong performances.
Example Sentence
월드컵 경기를 봤어요.
I watched a World Cup match.
How to use 월드컵 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “World Cup” is 월드컵, romanized as woldeu-keop.
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 월드컵.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'wohl-deu-kuhp' — three quick syllables. 'Wohl' rhymes with 'wall,' 'deu' is a short 'duh,' and 'kuhp' rhymes with 'cup.' It's the English word filtered through Korean sounds.
More Example Sentences
sharing national sports history
2002년 월드컵 때 한국이 4강까지 갔어요.
Korea made it to the semifinals during the 2002 World Cup.
describing the Red Devils street-cheering culture
월드컵 시즌엔 온 동네가 빨갛게 물들어요.
During World Cup season, the whole neighborhood turns red.
inviting a friend to a viewing party
이번 월드컵 한국 경기 같이 볼래?
Want to watch the Korea match in this World Cup together?
Cultural Context
2002 월드컵 — co-hosted by Korea and Japan — is a generational memory. The country painted itself red with 붉은악마 (Red Devils) shirts, and millions gathered at Seoul City Hall and Gwanghwamun to scream '대~한민국!' in unison. That chant and the clap rhythm that follows are still reflexively performed at every subsequent World Cup. Son Heung-min's arrival has raised expectations further, and outdoor screen viewings remain one of the few times Koreans openly celebrate nationalism without irony.
Editorial note
We review entries like 월드컵 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
월드컵 보러 갈래요?
Want to go watch the World Cup?
대한민국! 짝짝짝 짝짝!
Republic of Korea! (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)
월드컵 개최국
World Cup host country
Related Expressions
축구
chukgu
soccer / football
국가대표
gukga-daepyo
national team
거리응원
georieungwon
street cheering / public viewing
붉은악마
bulgeun-angma
Red Devils (Korean fan club)
More Sports Words
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