Nouns (Vocabulary Building)

Nouns, in the English language, are those words that pertain to a person, animal, thing,
and event. Noun or 명사 (myeongsa) in Hangul has three components that constitute Korean
nouns: Native Korean words (about 35%); Sino-Korean words (about 60%); and loan words
(about 5 %).

The following lists the common nouns useful for everyday conversations.
Appliances and Electronics

에어컨 eeokeon air conditioner

충전기 chungjeongi charger

휴대폰 hyudaepon mobile phone

라디오 radio radio

냉장고 naengjang-go refrigerator

텔레비전 tellebijeon television

세탁기 setakgi washing machine

컴퓨터 keompyuteo computer

Places

카페 kape café

교회 gyohoe church

영화관 yeonghwagwan cinema

소방서 sobangseo fire station

도서관 doseogwan library

학교 hakgyo school

병원 byeong-won hospital

호텔 hotel hotel

공원 gong-won park

경찰서 gyeongchalseo police station

Animals

새 sae bird

암소 amso cow

닭 dak chicken

사자 saja lion

원숭이 wonsungi monkey

돼지 dwaeji pig

토끼 tokki rabbit

뱀 baem snake

호랑이 horangi tiger

Beverages

물 mul water

커피 keopi coffee

주스 juseu juice

우유 uyu milk

차 cha tea

맥주 maekju beer

와인 wain wine

Food, Fruits, Vegetables

국 guk soup

밥 bap rice

사탕 satang candy

초콜릿 chokollit chocolate

버거 beogeo burger

빵 ppang bread

사과 sagwa apple
바나나 banana banana

오렌지 orenji orange

수박 subak watermelon

당근 danggeun carrot

양배추 yangbaechu cabbage

오이 oi cucumber

감자 gamja potato

토마토 tomato tomato

Work

의사 uisa doctor

농부 nongbu farmer

변호사 byeonhosa lawyer

요리사 yorisa chef

군인 gunin soldier

교수 gyosu professor

간호사 ganhosa nurse

경찰관 gyeongchalgwan police officer

Other Common (Useful) Words

버스 beoseu bus

비행기 bihaeng-gi airplane

택시 taeksi taxi

돈 don money

이름 ireum name

도시 dosi city

나라 nara country

문화 munhwa culture

건강 geongang health

사람 saram person
 질문 jilmun question

이야기 iyagi story

젓가락 jeotgarak chopsticks

테이블 teibeul table

의자 uija chair

신발 sinbal shoes/footwear

셔츠 syeocheu shirt

치마 chima skirt

남자 namja man

여자 yeoja woman

친구 chingu friend

낯선 사람 nachseon salam stranger

References
Collins Korean 3000 Words and Phrases. (2021). Harpers Collins Publishers.
Park, J. (2011). Prime Korean. Picador. Haneul. Bacoor, Cavite Philippines.
Toyryla, L. (n.d.). Korean nouns- Essential words for your language learning. 90 Day Korean.

Prepared by
Mary Dawn P. Lacsamana
Course Lecturer