Korean Dictionary
How to say "Zero Waste" in Korean
“Zero Waste” in Korean is 제로 웨이스트 (pronounced "jero weiseuteu").
제로 웨이스트
jero weiseuteu
Usage & Context
Zero waste is a philosophy aiming to eliminate waste and send nothing to landfills. Zero waste lifestyle has become a growing movement in Korean cities. Refill stations and package-free stores are appearing in Korea.
Example Sentence
제로 웨이스트 운동에 동참하고 싶어요.
I want to participate in the zero waste movement.
How to use 제로 웨이스트 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Zero Waste” is 제로 웨이스트, romanized as jero weiseuteu.
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 제로 웨이스트.
Pronunciation Guide
'제로' (jero) sounds like 'jeh-roh'. '웨이스트' (weiseuteu) is pronounced like 'way-soo-tuh'. As a loanword, the pronunciation closely follows the English, with Korean phonetic rules applied, resulting in a slightly softer 't' sound at the end.
More Example Sentences
Sharing a recent shopping experience.
제로 웨이스트 샵에서 리필 제품을 구매했어요.
I bought refill products at a zero-waste shop.
Talking about personal efforts towards sustainability.
제로 웨이스트 라이프스타일을 실천하려고 노력 중이에요.
I'm trying to practice a zero-waste lifestyle.
Discussing a growing social trend.
제로 웨이스트 운동에 동참하는 사람들이 점점 늘고 있어요.
More and more people are joining the zero-waste movement.
Cultural Context
The '제로 웨이스트' movement has gained significant traction in South Korea, especially among younger generations and environmentally conscious consumers. Cities like Seoul have seen an increase in '제로 웨이스트 샵' (zero-waste shops) where customers can buy products in bulk or refill their own containers, reducing packaging waste. This trend is often promoted by influencers and K-pop idols, encouraging a more sustainable lifestyle and a shift away from single-use plastics.
Editorial note
We review entries like 제로 웨이스트 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
제로 웨이스트 샵
zero-waste shop
제로 웨이스트 라이프
zero-waste life
제로 웨이스트 운동
zero-waste movement
Related Expressions
재활용
jaehwalyong
recycling
쓰레기 줄이기
sseuregi julligi
waste reduction
친환경
chinhwangyeong
eco-friendly
다회용품
dahoe yongpum
reusable items
More Environment Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Zero Waste and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
