# Korean

/ˈkɹiən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/korean
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. the language

noun · CEFR A1

the language spoken in North and South Korea.

For teachers: the official language of the Korean Peninsula, spoken by approximately 80 million people globally.

- She is learning Korean because she wants to watch dramas without subtitles.
- Modern Korean features a unique writing system called Hangul, which was commissioned by King Sejong the Great in the 15th century.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the language itself.

### 2. a person

noun · CEFR A1

a person from North Korea or South Korea, or someone whose family comes from there.

For teachers: a person of Korean ethnicity or a citizen of either North or South Korea.

- My new neighbour is a Korean who moved here to study engineering.
- The diaspora includes many Koreans living in the United States, China, and Japan who maintain strong cultural ties to the peninsula.

Usage: Countable noun; the plural form is 'Koreans'.

### 3. relating to Korea

adjective · CEFR A1

related to the country, the people, or the language of Korea.

For teachers: relating to North or South Korea, their inhabitants, or their language.

- We went to a great Korean restaurant and had spicy fried chicken.
- The Korean electronics industry has seen massive global growth over the last few decades, led by major multinational corporations.

Usage: Always capitalized.

## Examples

- I am learning how to speak Korean.
- The local community center offers classes for anyone interested in learning Korean or exploring the country's history.
- While the dialects of the north and south have diverged slightly over the decades, the core structure of Korean remains a unifying cultural force for the peninsula.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.