Korean Sound Words
멍멍, 반짝반짝, 두근두근 — words that sound like what they mean.
Korean is full of words that copy a sound (a dog's 멍멍) or paint a movement or feeling (a twinkling 반짝반짝, a pounding-heart 두근두근). Most come in doubled pairs. Each page gives the meaning, when people use it, an example and an English match when one exists.
Sound words (uiseongeo)
- 멍멍A dog's bark.
- 야옹A cat's meow.
- 꼬끼오A rooster's crow.
- 짹짹Small birds chirping.
- 꿀꿀A pig's grunt.
- 음매A cow's moo (also a goat's bleat).
- 개굴개굴Frogs croaking.
- 똑똑Knocking — and also water dripping drop by drop.
- 쾅A loud bang — a slammed door, a crash, a thump.
- 딩동A doorbell; on TV, the chime for a right answer.
- 째깍째깍A clock ticking.
- 쨍그랑Glass or china shattering.
- 콜록콜록Coughing.
- 에취A sneeze.
- 깔깔Loud, carefree laughter.
- 쿨쿨Sleeping soundly — snoring softly.
- 후루룩Slurping noodles or soup in one go.
- 꿀꺽A big gulp.
- 바삭바삭Crispy and crunchy, like good fried chicken.
- 보글보글A pot bubbling gently.
- 지글지글Sizzling on a hot grill.
- 주룩주룩Rain pouring down steadily.
- 쌩쌩Whooshing past fast — cars, wind, someone on a bike.
- 부릉부릉An engine revving.
Shape and feeling words (uitaeeo)
- 반짝반짝Twinkling, sparkling.
- 두근두근The heart pounding with excitement or nerves.
- 말랑말랑Soft and squishy.
- 몽글몽글Soft, rounded little clumps — and a warm, fuzzy feeling.
- 뒤죽박죽All mixed up, a total jumble.
- 꾸벅꾸벅Nodding off, head dropping again and again.
- 엉금엉금Crawling slowly and clumsily.
- 깡충깡충Hopping lightly.
- 살금살금Tiptoeing quietly so no one notices.
- 뒤뚱뒤뚱Waddling from side to side.
- 빙글빙글Spinning round and round.
- 꼬불꼬불Winding, curly, zigzagging.
- 오들오들Shivering with cold or fear.
- 방긋방긋Smiling sweetly with the lips, again and again.
- 쫄깃쫄깃Chewy and springy.
- 아장아장A toddler's small, unsteady steps.
- 싱글벙글Beaming, can't stop smiling.
- 흔들흔들Swaying back and forth.
Learn Korean, a little at a time
- Learn Hangul
- Korean Counters
- Korean Politeness Levels
- Korean Family Titles
- Korean Proverbs
- What Do I Call Them?
- Korean Slang
- Konglish Dictionary
- Korean Four-Character Idioms
- Hanja in Korean Names
- Korean Travel Phrases
- Korean Surnames
- Korean Etiquette
- Korean Numbers
- Korean Holidays Explained
- The 24 Solar Terms
- Korean Drinks
- Living in Korea: Key Terms
- Korean Seasons & Weather
- Types of Korean Restaurants